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(i) The Statement and its Reception 184. Shortly after 1] a.m. on Friday, 22nd March, 1963, Mr. Profumo made his personal statement to the House. The Prime Minister, the Leader of the House, and the Attorney-General sat beside him | when he rose wo make it. It was in these terms: ~ “With permission, Sir, I wish to make a personal statement. I understand that in the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill last night, under protection of parliamentary privilege, the Hon. Gentlemen _ the Members for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) and for Coventry, East (Mr. Crossman), and the Hon. Lady the Member for Blackburn bf ‘Miss Keeler and a recent trial at the Central Criminal Court. It was alleged that people in high places might have been responsible for concealing information concerning: the disappearance of a a witness and the perversion of justice. I understand that my name has been connected with the. rumours about the disappearance of Miss Keeler. “© "| would like to take this opportunity of making : a personal statement about these matters. | I last saw Miss Keeler i in December, 1961, and I have not seen her. since. I have no idea where she is now. Any suggestion that 1 was in any way connected with or responsible for her absence from the trial at the Old Bailey is wholly and completely ugtrue. My wife and I first met Miss Keeler at a house party in July, 1961, at Cliveden. Among a number of people there was Dr. Stephen Ward, whom we already knew slightly, and a Mr. Ivanov, who was an attaché at the Russian Embassy. : The only other occasion that my wife or I met Mr. Ivanov was for a moment at the official reception for Major Gagarin at the Soviet Embassy. My wife and I had a standing invitation to visit Dr. Ward... Between July and December, 1961, I met Miss Keeler on about half a dozen occasions at Dr, Ward’s flat, when I called to see him and his friends. Miss Keeler and I were on friendly terms. There was no impropriety whatsoever in my acquaintanceship with Miss Keeler. - Mr. Speaker, I have made this personal statement because af what was said in the House last evening by the three Hon. Members, and phich, of course, was protected by privilege. I shallf not hesitate to Samy. for libel and slander if scandalous allegations are made or te . the House.” OS woe 185. I am sure that the Prime Minister and all the Ministem were ‘ 7 setisfied of the truth of that statement, They could not conceive that any soo 61 (Mrs. Castle), opposite, spoke of rumours connecting a Minister with a -