U.K. Spy Trial Repercussions

Press, Volume C, Issue 29505, 5 May 1961, Page 13

U.K. Spy Trial Repercussions

(A.Z. Press Association-Copyright) LONDON, May 4. There would be a big investigation of Britain’s intelligence services after yesterday’s spy case, British newspapers said today.

George Blake, aged 38, a Foreign Office employee, was sentenced to 42 years’ imprisonment—the longest sentence in modern British history The sentence, said the "Daily Herald,” went beyond mere punishment—“it is virtual burial.” Lord Chief Justice Parker told Blake: “Your case is one of the worst that can be envisaged in times of peace. "Your conduct in many other countries would undoubtedly carry the death sentence.” The Lord Chief Justice said that the information Blake had given Russia

“rendered much of this country’s efforts completely useless.” Members of Parliament were dismayed last night over the implications of the case.

The Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) is expected to face a barrage of questions in the House of Commons today. Newspapers said the United States reaction to British spy cases was hardening. The "Daily Telegraph” reported that the threat to the Anglo-American pooling of information was even more serious than the immediate threat to British prestige

Strong pressure was being brought on President Kennedy’s Administration to restrict exchanges. The Attorney-General (Sir Reginald Manning-Butler)

refused to disclose in open Court information Blake had communicated but he said: "For the last nine and a-half years it appears from his statements that while employed tn the Government service and drawing a salary from the State, he has been working as an agent for Russians, a spy for them and has communicated a mass of information to them.”

Blake’s legal representatives said an appeal against the sentence was being considered.

Blake, who was a prisoner in North Korea for almost three years, admitted spying for the Soviet Union since becoming a Communist in 1951.

At that time, he was interned in Korea.

Blake was British ViceConsul in Korea in 1949. When Seoul was overrun by Communists, Blake was captured and spent 34 months in prison, where North Koreans attempted to brainwash him.