UCW Aberystwyth, Goronwy Rees Enquiry Papers (GB 0210 GOREES)

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Cymorth chwilio | Finding Aid - UCW Aberystwyth, Goronwy Rees Enquiry Papers (GB 0210 GOREES)

Cynhyrchir gan Access to Memory (AtoM) 2.3.0 Generated by Access to Memory (AtoM) 2.3.0 Argraffwyd: Mai 08, 2017 Printed: May 08, 2017 Wrth lunio'r disgrifiad hwn dilynwyd canllawiau ANW a seiliwyd ar ISAD(G) Ail Argraffiad; rheolau AACR2; ac LCSH This description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) Second Edition; AACR2; and LCSH. https://archifau.llyfrgell.cymru/index.php/ucw-aberystwyth-goronwy-rees-enquiry- papers-2 archives.library .wales/index.php/ucw-aberystwyth-goronwy-rees-enquiry-papers-2

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Tabl cynnwys | Table of contents

- Tudalen | Page 2 - GB 0210 GOREES UCW Aberystwyth, Goronwy Rees Enquiry Papers

Gwybodaeth grynodeb | Summary information

Lleoliad | Repository: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Teitl | Title: UCW Aberystwyth, Goronwy Rees Enquiry Papers ID: GB 0210 GOREES Virtua system control vtls004323565 number [alternative]: GEAC system control (WlAbNL)0000323565 number [alternative]: Dyddiad | Date: 1956-1958 (dyddiad creu | date of creation) Disgrifiad ffisegol | 0.027 cubic metres (9 folders, 3 bundles and 1 envelope) Physical description: Lleoliad ffisegol | ARCH/MSS (GB0210) Physical location: Iaith | Language: English Dyddiadau creu, golygu a dileu | Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Nodyn | Note The title of every unit of description has been supplied from the [generalNote]: contents. Original titles of files, where known, have been retained and are indicated by single quotation marks.

Hanes gweinyddol / Braslun bywgraffyddol | Administrative history | Biographical sketch

Nodyn | Note The University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Committee of Enquiry, 1956-57, was set up to consider the situation which had arisen at the College following the publication in the Sunday newspaper, The People, in March and April, 1956, of articles based on material supplied by the Principal of the College, Goronwy Rees. These articles described in detail Rees's close association over many years with Guy Burgess, a man who, since that period, had achieved notoriety as a Russian spy and had just made a sensational reappearance in Moscow. In May 1951, Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, two British Foreign Office workers, disappeared in mysterious circumstances that suggested political defection to the East. On 11 February 1956 Burgess dramatically reappeared in Moscow. On five consecutive Sundays between 11 March and 8 April 1956 Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 3 GB 0210 GOREES UCW Aberystwyth, Goronwy Rees Enquiry Papers articles on Burgess were published in The People, written anonymously by 'his most intimate friend - a man in high academic position'. The source of the information was soon identified and Principal Goronwy Rees of Aberystwyth was named in the Daily Telegraph, 29 March 1956. Many members of the College were profoundly disturbed by the course of events and believed strongly that the affair should not be ignored. It looked at one time as if the matter would be quickly resolved by Rees's resignation, but this did not come about. On 20 June the students at Aberystwyth voted in favour of the motion 'that the student body ... would view with extreme concern and alarm any action that would result in the dismissal or resignation of the Principal'. On 29 June 1956, the matter was raised before the College Council where it was narrowly decided that 'no action was required and the matter was now closed'. However, the Treasurer, J. Alban Davies, and Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards, two prominent members of the Council, had tendered their resignations, and several others signified their intention to do so unless a committee of enquiry were appointed. A special meeting of the Council was summoned in July 1956. A letter signed by eighteen members of the Senate asking for an independent enquiry had been received. The motion was carried and Rees announced his intention to resign. The Council, however, refused to accept the resignation and asked the Principal to reconsider his decision. Finally, it was decided to ask Sir Keith Murray, Chairman of the University Grants Committee, and Sir Emrys Evans, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales, to nominate three persons to serve on the Committee of Enquiry. The Committee was chaired by the Rt Hon. Henry Willink, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. J. W. F. Hill, President of the Council of Nottingham University and W. J. Worboys, Chairman of the Council of Industrial Design, were the other members. G. H. Baxter, recently retired from the post of Assistant Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, was appointed Secretary. The Committee opened its enquiry in October 1956 and presented its findings in February 1957. The Report was 'received' by the Council at its meeting on 15 March 1957, together with a statement from the Principal indicating that he had been unable to accept the Committee's findings. His resignation, which had already been tendered on 11 February, was accepted by the Council.

Natur a chynnwys | Scope and content

The fonds comprises the evidence submitted, October-December 1956, to the UCW Aberystwyth Committee of Enquiry by members of the College Council and Senate, draft and final copies of the Report, 1957, and correspondence and press cuttings, 1956-1957, relating to the enquiry.

Nodiadau | Notes

Nodiadau teitl | Title notes

Trefniant | Arrangement Arranged according to provenance at NLW into thirteen files. For details of arrangement within each file, see file level descriptions.

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 4 GB 0210 GOREES UCW Aberystwyth, Goronwy Rees Enquiry Papers Cyfyngiadau ar fynediad | Restrictions on access Closed until 2000. Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Amodau rheoli defnydd | Conditions governing use Copyright belongs to the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Rhestrau cymorth | Finding aids A hard copy of this list is available at NLW. See also file level descriptions.

Disgrifiadau deunydd | Related material Related correspondence is NLW, Richard I. Aaron Papers, 34.

Ychwanegiadau | Accruals Accruals are not expected

Nodiadau eraill | Other notes • Statws cyhoeddiad | Publication status: Published

Pwyntiau mynediad | Access points

• Rees, Goronwy, 1909- (pwnc) | (subject)

Disgrifiad cyfres | Series descriptions

Cod cyfeirnod | Ref Teitl | Title Dyddiadau | Statws mynediad | Cynhwysydd | code Dates Access status Container /1 vtls004323569 File - The Willink Report 1957 /1 (1). (WlAbNL)0000323569 /2 vtls004323570 File - 'Principal's Narrative' 1956-1957 /2 (1). (WlAbNL)0000323570 /3 vtls004323582 File - Written evidence 1956-1957 /3 (1). (WlAbNL)0000323582 /4 vtls004323571 File - Oral evidence 1956 /4 (2). (WlAbNL)0000323571 /5 vtls004323587 File - 'Basic documents' 1956 /5 (3). (WlAbNL)0000323587 /6 vtls004323593 File - 'Location of Material' 1956 /6 (3). (WlAbNL)0000323593

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 5 GB 0210 GOREES UCW Aberystwyth, Goronwy Rees Enquiry Papers /7 vtls004323596 File - Correspondence 1956-1957 /7 (4). (WlAbNL)0000323596 /8 vtls004323598 File - Press cuttings: The People 1956-1958 /8 (3). (WlAbNL)0000323598 /9 vtls004323599 File - Press cuttings: 'Willink's bundle' 1956-1957 /9 (3). (WlAbNL)0000323599 /10 vtls004323601 File - Press cuttings: 'Driberg's articles' 1956 /10 (3). (WlAbNL)0000323601 /11 vtls004323602 File - 'G. H. Baxter: Private papers' 1956-1957 /11 (3). (WlAbNL)0000323602 /12 vtls004323603 File - 'G. H. Baxter: Secretarial 1956-1957 /12 (3). (WlAbNL)0000323603 Arrangements' /13 vtls004323604 File - 'G. H. Baxter: Rough notes' 1956-1957 /13 (3). (WlAbNL)0000323604

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 6