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an. 310. These rumours are entirely without foundation: Thé true tacts oa this matter are these: During a week-end in July, 1961 (probably 16th July, 1961) Mr. Profumo borrowed the Minister's black Bentley car Ahad 2 mascot on it which identifies it. The reason for borrowing it was because ¥ i Mrs. Profumo had gone to the country in their own car. The not using his car that week-end as he was going (as he oftes: ‘ey to t constituency by train; and Mr. Profumo asked if he could borrow as had to be in London. The Minister tet him have the keys. of the car thought no more about it. Mr. Profumo did not tell the Minister the purpose for which he was going to use it, He did in fact use it to take Christine Keeler for a drive or two in London. He pointed out to her the mascot on it and told her that the car belonged to the Minister. He returned the car on the Sunday night. This was the only occasion on which he took out Christine Keeler in the Minister’s car. The Minister had no knowledge that Mr. Profumo used his car for this purpose. He had no idea whatever that Mr. Profumo borrowed the car $0 as to take Christine or any other T girl out in it, eee tel Bae FAs - 311, The whole incident was $0 unimportant to the Minister that it faded completely from his mind. Nearly two years later, when Christine Keeler gave her story to the newspapers, she actually told them that Mr. Profumo had driven her out in a car which had this particular mascot on the bonnet. This showed it was the Minister’s car. The newspaper believed her story. When it was put to the Minister (as it was on 2nd April, 1963) he said there was no truth in it. This was a most unfortunate mistake on his part. I am satisfied however, that it was an entirely innocent mistake: he ho Gikn See, PA Tey baa Be Pr Sar wekiGi ety SESE Se SARL OteS had simply forgotten that he had lent the car. As soon as he was reminded of it (as he was by Mr. Profumo on 6th June, 1963) he corrected it and acknowledged that he had made a mistake. 312. 1 am satisfied that these rumours were entirely without foundation. All that happened was that the Minister quite innocently lent his car to Mr. Profumo for one week-end not knowing the Purpose for which it was to be used. Tesi (iv) The Cup, of Tea oe o es 413. In this same French newspaper, the names of two ‘other Ministers were mentioned, as if they were in the Ward orbit. “ Des membres du cabinet comme MM... . et... y venaient volontiers prendre une tasse de thé. ..., Or voici qu’o ‘on raconte que les conversations mondaines . . . avaient leur prolongement dans les appartements de. Ward. Mais on y tenait évidemment un tout autre langage et lon s’y ennuyait beaucoup moins.” (Such Cabinet Ministers as Mr.... and Mr... . afe glad to go there for a cup of tea. . It is said, however, that the social conversations .. . are cafried further in Ward’s flat. Obviously a quite different language is spoken there and one which is less boring.) These rumours have never got into circulation in England—they were too obviously preposterous—and I need. net dwell upon them. (v) The Spaniard’s Photograph * 314. I turn sow to yet another Minister (whose name did appear in the French newspaper) but about whom the following Tomo circulated which arose directly out of the Profumo affair. 106