A specialist naval officer gave evidence that the transmitter found in the Krogers’ house was amply capable of transmitting to Moscow and beyond. A Russian-language expert confirmed that the signal schedules found in the Krogers’ Ronson lighter and the lighter from Lonsdale’s flat were similar, and included coded transmission details under the headings “transmission blind” and “transmissions on orders of centre.”
The next day included the evidence of a communications expert from the HQ of the British monitoring services. Using the signals plan found in the Krogers’ bungalow he had plotted the bearings and confirmed that the transmitter covered was sited in Moscow.
Towards the end of the day the defence began calling witnesses. When the trial resumed on the following Monday most of the court’s time was taken up with defence counsel’s attempt to establish that Houghton had acted only under threat and that Gee had been a reluctant partner.
By the Wednesday it was the Krogers’ turn. Their several changes of name were touched on. The Attorney-General also brought out their connection with the Rosenbergs in the USA and their connections with Colonel Abel.
On Wednesday March 22, 1961 the Lord Chief Justice said of Lonsdale: “You are clearly a professional spy. It is a dangerous career and one in which you must be prepared—and no doubt are prepared—to suffer if you are caught.”
He passed sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment.
Of the Krogers he said: “I cannot distinguish between either of you—you are both in this up to the hilt. You are both professional spies.”
They received sentences of 20 years each.
Houghton and Gee were both given sentences of 15 years and Lord Parker condemned them as traitors to their country whose motive was sheer greed.
With the trial over the press gave itself up to an orgy of revelation. Houghton’s ex-wife described a marriage of physical cruelty and meanness. Lonsdale’s ex-girlfriends and mistresses described in vivid detail his charm and generosity and hinted that his prowess as a lover was incredible. Those who studied the simian features of Lonsdale’s photographs wondered if that mean-eyed face was really that of the man the women had described. A couple of newspapers mounted the usual campaign that the secret service was inefficient and a few MPs called for an enquiry.
Media interest in the case was short-lived. The new E-type Jaguar was more interesting at £1,480 plus purchase tax and it still wasn’t easy to get tickets for My Fair Lady at Drury Lane.
28
The house in Georgetown had been converted from a derelict warehouse with great skill and taste. Two teams of CIA electronics engineers had swept it thoroughly and declared it clean. It was used as a safe-house by the CIA for top-secret meetings. As added security, there were no telephones. Communication with the outside world was by messenger or radio.
Six places had been arranged around a glass-topped table for the meeting, but there were none of the usual scrap-pads or writing materials that went with normal meetings for notetaking. It had been agreed beforehand that there would be no record of the meeting.
The three Americans chatted about the weather, the new CIA pay-scales and their views on Allen Drury’s Advise and Consent, anything except the matter that had brought them there.
When the two Britishers arrived, Shapiro from SIS and Andrews from CIA-SIS liaison, there were handshakes all round and introductions to the two Americans they had not already met.
It was Macleod who started them off, smiling as he pushed an ash-tray towards Andrews.
“Apologies for the formal arrangements.” He laughed. “Unfortunately, we don’t have furniture for a more informal layout.” He paused. “However, we all know why we are here and we all know that this meeting is informal and off-the-record.” He nodded towards Shapiro. “I’ll leave it to Mr. Shapiro to start the ball rolling.”
Shapiro took a deep breath. “As you know, I’ve come to ask for help from the CIA.” He looked at the three Americans’ faces but there was no response. “For many years we have passed on to the CIA almost all the information from one of our top agents. I think it’s fair to say that most of the CIA’s information on both the internal politics of the KGB and Polish intelligence came solely from this source. I’m authorised to tell you now that the man concerned was in fact the liaison officer between the Polish security service and the KGB. But he is actually an Englishman.” Shapiro paused and looked around the table. “You can imagine the courage it took to maintain that cover. And you can imagine the importance to both SIS and CIA of having that level of information.” He paused and then said quietly, “At the moment that man is in a special punishment section of a Gulag labour-camp. Perhaps I should add that he is a commissioned officer in the Intelligence Corps with the rank of captain. We understand from two sources that he has been very badly treated and is unlikely to survive more than three or four months.” Shapiro paused again. “We have nobody of similar importance to offer as an exchange. I should like to ask officially—if you would consider offering Moscow an exchange for this officer.” Shapiro took a deep breath. “Maybe I ought to declare an interest. I recruited this man myself. We had a very special relationship. I explained the risks but he went ahead willingly.” He paused and his voice quavered slightly as he said softly, “I feel personally responsible for his terrible situation.”
For several moments there was silence around the table and then Macleod said, “Have you any indication
