Chambermaid got no secrets, says diplomat

Press, 25 February 1981, Page 9

Chambermaid got no secrets, says diplomat

NZPA London Sir Geoffrey Harrison, the former British Ambassador to Moscow who had admitted that he was withdrawn 13 years ago because of an affair with a Soviet; chambermaid at the embassy, said yesterday that the woman had. not got any secrets that could jeopardise Britain’s security. At his home in Sussex, Sir Geoffrey, who is now 73, said: “I knew things that could prejudice public safety — I had access to a great deal of information. - “But I never said. any- . thing that could prejudice®, the safety of this country.” The chambermaid, :, a blonde named (Jalya, was recalled by the wife of an-.;: other diplomat as a “bit?, of a tart.” Reporters descended on the silver-haired retired diplomat at his country home after the “Sunday Times” ran an account of his recall at the time of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Sir Geoffrey said the affair was an “aberration”' on his part, as it was assumed every Sovie.t employe? worked for the K.G.B. •• He said he informed the Foreign • Office when he realised the security implications. It was widely assumed at the time that his recall was to show British displeasure at the Soviet invasion.

“It was a very silly thing to do. My wife knew what had occurred at the time and she stood by me.” The Harrisons have been married 45 years and have three sons and a daughter. - The “Daily Mail” reported yesterday that the chambermaid “tried to get a new job at the Australian Embassy” after she was sacked by Sir Geoffrey’s successor in Moscow, Sir Duncan Wilson.

She failed because the British revealed her background, but it was believed she went to another embassy, the report ??

Lady Wilson recalled Galya; as “blonde, of ample proportions, and really? looked a bit of a tart. She was not a young ? slip of a girl, and certainly not in the first flush of youth.” Sir Duncan VVilson said: “There was no doubt that she was one of the Russians’ top-drawer girls. Galya, whose real name was Galina, was no ordinary domestic. A blonde and about 30 she was a cut above the ordinary Russian working girls — attractive and obviously too willing to please.” Sir Geoffrey, who retired on his recall from Moscow, said that he was “very embarrassed” that the affair had been revealed. “Of course I regret the affair, and have lived with it all these years, but I would not have expected it to come out,” he said.

The “Sunday Times” journalist who wrote the story, Barrie Penrose, said yesterday that Lady Falkender, Sir Harold Wilson’s political secretary, had revealed the affa’r.

It emerged when Mr Penrose interviewed Lady Falkender four years ago, during research for a book. Penrose said he decided to write the sfory after it had been revealed last! week that « United States military:-attache was; compromised by; ya? Russian chambermaid Working for the K.G.B. " ’* ;f “It was then that the affair involving /the then Mr Harrison. ■ became xele-j vant,” said.Mr/Pe&roke \ Penrose said he discovered that- the affair had lasted throughout . the summer of 1968 and had' not been a “one-night fling.” The affair was revealed when Mr Penrose spoke to Lady Falkender and Sir Harold about security matters.

Sir Harold was concerned that former members of the security service and their contacts in the press were pursuing a vendetta against him. “During the conversation examples were cited of Harrison and other Right-wing people getting away with security matters,” said Penrose. “I was told of many, many more stories of the same type.” But he said he did not think he would follow up those instances