Vassall To Appear Before Tribunal

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30043, 30 January 1963, Page 11

Vassall To Appear Before Tribunal

(N.Z.P.A .-Reictcr—Copvriyht) LONDON, January 28. The Radcliffe tribunal, investigating Britain’s naval security, today continued its questioning of journalists about their sources of information on the convicted spy, William Vassall.

VaeeeU bunself, a former Admiralty clerk, was expected to testify to the tribunal in public for the first time later today, and about f people guttiered outside the chambers hoping for a ’ tfjenpre run. Vassal!, now serving an 18yeer sentence for spying for Russia, appeared beinro toe tribunal to riweroher but in private. Vaaaaß wae driven to the otuiMiwc snorniy □eror’e lunch recess, and was put to a room near the tribunal chambers. But when it become apparent later in the day that there would not be time for him to appear he was driven back to, toe prison, ft was expected he! would return tomorrow Two staff reporters cf fhe as n *Y— 9- - ro --a * DBUjy SKMCSi OMCawBCI veotigateons toey had made into VaasalTs private Ufa. The first witness today. Mr Rented Norris, said he had Interviewed some of Vaaoeil*s former teachers and school classmates and tout they had described him as “srismto ■ ate** and as a "sissy.” - The second JournUMat, Mr Peter Burden, said he had bran assigned to find out whether Vseetel was a tmown homosexual and whether ha hept toe company of homosexuals.

Mr Burden said he had met a man with whom VasoaU became friendly while on hoNdey in Capri in 1966. The jouroatiat sted he had been tol’ the two man did not stay at the some place in Oaprl “VaateM said he was storing at an sinfraesy. I believe be arid toe Dutch tonbeesy, if there is such a piece to Capri.** Mr Burden arid tern be hod riteted a number at dubs to Londonb West End which were the known haunte of hoowexuata. He ww Mind if he found any at which Vassal! wee wan known, and be replied: "Yes, two.” A 16-minuie tape recording of S> dMBNMMMfon bMNPMtk VmmH's bouMtoMpet*, Mrs Murray, and a journalist identified aa Mr Yeas, of toe tetouSl* ***

-Jn it, Mta Mroroy eaM Mr Thomas GefibraMh, the then Ovfl Lord Of the AfrnMty bM Ami nAonAL Imnl called a* Vaaooß’a fiat early to 1961. Before the tape was played to toe tribunal Mrs limy said under examination that, in fact, she had not aaan the man who rolled at the flat that she was in another room. She assumed it was Mr Gatoraith because Vassal! had told her later that it was his "boss,” she said.