§ 19. Colonel Gomme-Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that, before the appointment of Mr. Burgess and Mr. Maclean to their most recent posts in 1913 the Foreign Office, their confidential personal records were consulted, including the periodical reports of their superiors; whether he is satisfied that their records and reports were up to date at the time of their appointments; and whether, after examination, he is satisfied that these records and reports were a true and accurate assessment of the character and qualifications of these two men, in view of subsequent events.
§ Mr. EdenThe answer to the first part of the Question is: "Yes, Sir."
As to the second and third parts of the Question, these records and reports accurately represent the information in the possession of the Foreign Office at the material date; but, in view of information subsequently received from outside sources, they clearly did not represent the full picture.
§ Mr. StokesIs it not a fact that one of these persons was, in fact, sent home by the Ambassador in Cairo, and how was it that a man who was then involved in what I call disreputable conduct in connection with the Americans should ever come to be appointed in charge of the American Department at the Foreign Office?
§ Mr. EdenIt really was not my responsibility, and it is no good the right hon. Gentleman getting angry with me about it.
§ Mr. StokesI am not angry about it.
§ Mr. EdenI have looked into these papers very carefully, and what happened was that this officer, who clearly had a very good record previously, had been sent home on medical advice, and it was thought that he had made a sufficient recovery to be entrusted with the work of that Department, which, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, does not, in fact, despite its name, deal with important confidential American matters.
§ Captain WaterhouseHas my right hon. Friend any information whether or not Mrs. Maclean, who recently left this country, is now in touch with her husband?
§ Mr. BellengerAlthough it is a well-recognised fact that Ministers have to take responsibility for what happens in their Departments, nevertheless is it not strange that those in charge of personnel at the Foreign Office were unaware of very serious incidents which have shocked the public and which have now emerged as, for example, in a debate in another place yesterday?
§ Mr. EdenThey were aware of the incidents in Cairo, but as regards the accusations made in another place about a record supposed to have been made by Mr. Maclean, I have been unable to trace any such record at all, though there was, in fact, a record made by Mr. Burgess at a private party. I have not had it played to me, but I understand that it does not contain any professed Communist views, but only, in most part, comic imitations of, in some cases, quite well-known public figures.