DEFECTION TO EAST

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 17

DEFECTION TO EAST

Former U.S. Agent (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MOSCOW, July 22. The Soviet Government newspaper “Izvestia” today reported that an Arabborn former staff member of the United States National Security Agency in Washington has defected to Russia and asked for political asylum. “Izvestia” said that the former agent for the Americans defected because he was "outraged” by U.S. intelligence activities endangering peace in the Middle East.

The alleged defector was identified as Viktor Norris Hamilton, born Hindala, who said in an open letter to "Izvestia” that he was 44. and a graduate of the American University in Beirut. Hamilton said he had married Miss Lilly Bell Drake, whom he had met in Benghazi, Libya. Hamilton said he was recruited for espionage work by an American colonel, whom he named only as "Maxwelil.” “Maxwell,” he said, had arranged for his admission to an intelligence school, “Tempo X,” where he was given lessons in cryptography and general intelligence techniques. Since June. 1957, the defector said he was employed by the N.S.A. in Washington and later at Fort Meade. Maryland. He was registered as an expert in the Near Eastern Section of the department called “Allo” which covered intelligence for the United Arab Republic, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan. Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Libya, Morocco. Tunis, Turkey, Iran, Greece and Ethiopia.