Letter from Winston Churchill, prime minister, relating to an enquiry into suspicions that a clerk at the Colonial Office has been selling secret information, and the opening of a letter directed to the Manchester Guardian in the course of the investigation, though without any suggestion of culpability on the part of the paper. Also included is internal correspondence, suggesting that S.J. Meaney may be the clerk in question.
There is correspondence with S.J. Meaney, civil servant and journalist, relating to requests by Meaney that any enquiries relating to him are not answered by the Manchester Guardian, accompanied by internal correspondence discussing the subject. There is also discussion of the decision not to continue to use Meaney as a correspondent for the paper and of Meaney's repeated requests to continue to send contributions. There is correspondence relating to Meaney's assertion that the information provided to the Manchester Guardian did not come from confidential documents, and discussion of the loss of his job at the Colonial Office. There is discussion of Meaney's continuing to contribute articles, on the provision that the sources of the information are also provided, accompanied by related internal memoranda. There is also a request for financial assistance from Meaney, with discussion of the difficulties of freelance journalism, which is declined.