https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/b2aec784531dc5dc380942582d050d98.pdf e6aad32cd9bd622ba1d0a8fc8f7de583 PDF Text Text Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la Loi sur l'acces /'information a SECRET September 19, 1955 BS.Ii!'{ L -.a~ • ~l?soiv I am attaching .for your information a memorandum, dated September 19, 1955, on the subject of Petrov 1 s statements on Burgess and MacLean. You may have already seen the news item in the press this morning. The A.P. p1"'ess report in the Gazette is substantially the same information as that contained 1 s memorandum. in Earnscliffe 2. Mr. Hunt who le.ft this memorandum with requested that if you had the opportunity., it might be useful to read the memorandum before the _ dinner this evening...,..;.......c.u S....:.... ,t.,...~ 2,/-,.JJ ..._......, __,._;.t. Ii, l\1r" Crean ~ ,.- 1.,1,.-• 3. inform.ation I You will recall similar to this -/ that Mr. Crean gave you orally on his return .from '"~'1i}@~oni 19-7- "¼-f I f- f. JI (:,s) 000143 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de fa Loi sur l'acces a /'information CONFIDENTIAL 11/LR.PETROV' S STATEMENTS REGARDING BURGESS AND I'fu\.OLEAN It is understood that Petrov, the aussian· cypher clerk who appeared before the Australian Royal Oommission on Espionage, has now published his • book which is also being serialized by the Sydney "Morning Herald" • . Petrov deals in some detail with-the story of Burgess and MacLean. His main points are: ... 2. (a) BUrgess and MacLean were·long-term agents. Soviet (b} At the time of their flight they were under by the British security investigation authorities. (c) They discovered that an investigation was taking place and reported to their Soviet contact who arranged their flight. (d) The flight Moscow. was planned and directed from (e) Since their flight they have worked for the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Anglo.American matters. (f) Before his flight MaoLean may have told his . • wife of his true destination. (g) At a later stage :Mrs. MacLean fully participated in the escape plan~ 3. The United Kingdom authorities.are not volunteering any statement on Petrov' s story. If questions are put on the foregoing specific points (but only if they are put) the Foreign Office will reply ·as given below. The answers to the points 4. in paragraph 2 above are:(a) We believe this to be true. (b) It is true that MacLean was under aetive investigation by the security authorities. BUrgess's suitability for continued foreign service employment was under investigation, /and 000144 �Document disclosed under the A~cess to Information Act Document divulgu,e en vertu de lo Loi sur /'occes a /'information and he had already been withdrawn from Washington. There was insufficient evidence to warrant MacLean's arrest, nor were there powers to prevent either man leaving the country. (c) and (d) We believe to be correct. (e) This may be correct, evidence. but we have no direct (f) We have no information to confirm. this view. (g) We presume this to mean the plan for Mrs. MacLean's own escape with her children from Geneva in September 1953. We cannot say to what extent Mrs. MacLean may have been a free agent or what pressure may have been put upon her when she disappeared from Geneva. 5. The United Kingdom High Conn:n.issioner's Office in Ottawa will not volunteer any comment on Petrov's statements but if questioned it is authorised to reply as in paragraph 4 above. No other questions will be answered without reference to London. Similar guidance has been sent to all United Kingdom diplomatic posts abroad and also to certain Consular posts. Office of the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Earnscliffe, Ottawa. 000145 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CDMB Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDMB00014 Title A name given to the resource Jules Leger, Memorandum for the Minister, 19 September 1955 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 19-Sep-55 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived LAC RG25/R219 2017-0440-5 Box 11 File 7-5-Burg Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Library and Archives Canada Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Canadian Crown Subject The topic of the resource MacLean/Burgess Description An account of the resource A-2023-02971 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Type The nature or genre of the resource Access to Information Request Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English