DEFECTION TO EAST

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 13

DEFECTION TO EAST

Briton s Access To Secrets

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, July 8.

Brian Patchett, a British Intelligence Corps corporal reported to have defected to East Germany, had access to “top secret” information, a War Office spokesman said late last night.

The spokesman said: “He had been positively vetted. This means that, if his duties required it, he would have been able to see top secret material. But that is different from saying that he did see it. He was dealing with classified material.” Patchett. who was reported to have asked in East Berlin for political asylum, had been missing from the Royal Air Force base at Gatow Airport,

West Berlin, since Tuesday. Army officials said Patchett had worked in West Berlin for the Army Intelligence Corps since last November and had been on similar assignments in West Germany since March, 1961, The officials said Patchett had not taken any documents with him when he disappeared. ' The East German news agency, A.D.N., said Patchett had asked East German authorities for political asylum "to work for a better and more peaceful life.” British authorities have opened an inquiry into Patchett’s absence.