HC Deb 16 February 1953 vol 511 cc866-7
25. Mr. Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what position Mr. Guy Burgess held in the Ministry of Economic Warfare, Special Operations Executive, during the war; what was the nature of his duties; and to what extent he had any connection with any of the agents who were subsequently executed by the Germans at Mauthausen.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Anthony Eden)

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None, Sir." The second part of the Question does not therefore arise. The answer to the last part of the Question is "None, Sir."

Mr. Lewis

May I thank the Foreign Secretary for that reply? May I ask whether he is aware that I have spoken to some of the Dutch underground people who escaped execution and they have stated that at some time Guy Burgess was connected with this Department? Can the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiries as to whether he had any other connection with this Department?

Mr. Eden

In 1941, which I think is the last date that I have, Burgess joined the B.B.C. and was employed exclusively on the Home Service, so I think that it must be quite clear that he could have had nothing to do with this event, which was in 1942–43.