Vassall To Appear Before Tribunal (Press, 30 January 1963)
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Summary: Vassall To Appear Before Tribunal (Press, 30 January 1963)
On 28 January 1963, the Radcliffe tribunal in London continued to investigate British naval security by questioning journalists regarding their information sources related to convicted spy William Vassall. Vassall, a former Admiralty clerk serving an 18-year sentence for espionage for Russia, was anticipated to testify publicly that day. However, due to time constraints, he could not appear and was driven back to prison. The tribunal expected him to return to testify the following day. During the session, two journalists were called as witnesses. The first, Mr. Rented Norris, detailed his interviews with Vassall's former teachers and classmates, who characterised him as "strange" and a "sissy". The second journalist, Mr. Peter Burden, revealed his assignment to assess Vassall's sexual orientation and connections with homosexual circles. Burden recounted a meeting with a man who had befriended Vassall while on holiday in Capri in 1966, noting that they did not stay at the same place but Vassall claimed he was lodging at an inn. Burden indicated he had visited several clubs in London's West End known to be frequented by homosexuals, and he confirmed finding two which Vassall was known to have visited. In a related testimony, the tribunal heard a 16-minute tape recording featuring interviews with Vassall’s housemate, Mrs. Murray, and a journalist identified as Mr. Yeas. Mrs. Murray mentioned that she was in another room during an incident at their flat involving Vassall and assumed the visitor was Mr. Thomas Garbraith, whom Vassall later identified as his "boss." The tribunal’s ongoing investigation highlighted the complexities surrounding Vassall's case, raising questions about his background and relationships, as well as broader implications for naval security in Britain. The questioning of the journalists aimed to expose the links between Vassall's personal life and his activities as a spy, amid increasing scrutiny on the handling of sensitive information within the military and government circles.
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