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ee MTT? but with a right of direct access to the Prime Minister), bad never announced: and it does not seem to have been generally known, . thought of calling back the Home Secretary. ©. = . _ 183, On the morning of Friday. 22nd March, at 9.30 a.m. the Chief Whip and the Attorney-General called on the Prime Minister and discussed with him the draft statement. The Prime Minister made two minor drafting amendments and approved it. The Prime Minister had been fully aware of all that had taken place since early February, 1963. The Chief Whip and his Private Secretary had kept him informed of the rumours and of what Mr. Profumo said about them. But the Prime Minister himself had never at any time discussed these rumours with Mr. Profumo. He told me that the reasons were twofold: First, if a Prime Minister sees a Minister and asks a question of this kind, there is no ‘follow-up’. The Prime Minister could either believe it or disbelieve it. and if he disbelieved it, he could not do business again as a Prime Minister with him. Secondly, he thought it better \ to get friends of his own age, the Attorney-General, the Chief Whip, and others to talk to him: and if there was anything in it, he would say it to them. Over this perlod the Prime Minister was told repeatedly by them that Mr. Profumo stuck absolutely by his story. And then, when he was told that Mr. Profumo was prepared to make a personal statement in the House, the Prime Minister was satisfied completely of the truth of it ~