U.K. Secret Service Economies Opposed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31583, 22 January 1968, Page 11

U.K. Secret Service Economies Opposed

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, January 21. Moves by the British Government to cut the Secret Service and the M. 1.5 counterespionage organisation as part of its defence economies are being vigorously opposed by security chiefs.

Sir Richard White, head of M. 1.6, which controls British

spies abroad, and Sir Martin Furniall-Jones, director-gene-ral of M. 1.5, responsible for countering foreign spies in Britain, insist that they need more money for these three reasons: Now that troops are to be withdrawn from the Far . East and Persian Gulf, undercover work by military intelligence officers will have to be done by civilian agents. As the forces are committed to sending out troops by air and sea to distant trouble spots, they will need more warning time, so intelligence must be more advanced. There are no signs of any reduction in the danger of subversion by Communist agents in Britain. The Secret Service, which costs film a year, has already suffered a substantial cut through devaluation because many of its agents and expenses have to be paid in foreign currency.