Big U.K. Security Inquiry Planned

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 11

Big U.K. Security Inquiry Planned

(fil.Z Press Association— Copyright)

LONDON, May 5. The British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) decided last night to set off Britain’s biggest security investigation, the "Daily Mail’’ reported. It would involve every vital Government department.

This was a sequel to the sentencing of a Foreign Office employee, George Blake, to 42 years’ imprisonment on Wednesday for spying for Russia. The Prime Minister yesterday told the House of Commons that Blake's spying would not have done irreparable damage He said he did not think any useful purpose would be served by an inquiry. The British press reacted strongly to these statements today. “Feeble . . . evasive,” said the “Daily Mirror.” “The Prime Minister failed the nation yesterday.” It pointed out that the Lord Chief Justice, in sentencing Blake, said that his spying had “rendered much of his country’s efforts completely useless.” "Who is right?” the newspaper asked. The “Daily Herald” said "a separate inquiry is needed into why Blake was able to operate so long without discovery.” The “Daily Mail" referred to Mr Macmillan's “soothing attempts to try to explain it away. Some parts of Mr Macmillan's statements are hard to understand and harder to accept. He said ‘such cases are, I hope, extremely rare.’ “The appalling fact is,” said the newspaper, “they are not extremely rare.” The Prime Minister said Blake had done no irreparable harm, the "Daily Sketch” pointed out. “We would like to know what sentence we reserve for

traitors who do Irreparable damage.'" (Blake’s 42-years’ sentence is the longest in recent British history.) It has been announced that Blake will appeal against the sentence. The “Daily Telegraph” reported that a team of senior United States officers, representing the intelligence agencies responsible for counter-espionage, was about to leave America for Britain to discuss security arrangements. The move had been dictated by the concern in President Kennedy's Administration over security breaches in Britain.