Talk:Cambridge Five

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Several anonyms have been busily adding their pet theories about the identity of "the Fifth Man". Please don't do that! As the article was already trying to explain, the preponderance of current evidence is that the ring contained far more than five members, and Golitsin's "Ring of Five" phrase was a red herring. Furthermore no-one has actually been convicted of it. It would be more appropriate to add a list of suspected members, each with a reason for inclusion, and perhaps noting (where appropriate) any specific public accusations, such as being the subject of a book. Securiger 00:53, 13 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Regarding (in "Known Members" beginning): "Investigation of Philby found several suspicious matters but nothing for which he could be prosecuted, and he was forced to resign." Resign when, and from what post (both nominal and actual, since he was intel)? According to Kim_Philby#Chronology, he was asked to resign in '51 but it was not until 1955 that "the Foreign Service dismissed him because of his association with Burgess." This must have been an interesting four years, if it's really true he retained MI6 employment even though he knew he was under scrutiny. What's the story here? One or two sentences would solve this article's omission and probably add some interesting spice. Marquess 04:02, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Gorsky

Perhaps some mention of Anatoly Gorsky, London Rezident 1940-1944 who managed the group should be made should be made; also it's time to do a Gorsky biopage. nobs 18:50, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

Look into Dr. Arnold Deutsch as the principal recruiter. Another member - John Cairncross as the original fifth man.

[edit] Gay?

Wasn't the ring homosexual? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 209.206.165.32 (talk) 04:55, 20 January 2007 (UTC).

Blunt and Burgess were homosexuals. (Burgess, in fact, was rumoured to have a variety of unorthodox peccadilloes.) The minor agent John Vassall (who was not part of "the Ring" per se) was also homosexual. However, there is little or no evidence any of the others were. Maclean may have been bisexual but the evidence is sparse and he was married (his wife joined him in Russia after he defected), while Philby married four times and also had several heterosexual affairs (including with Maclean's wife.) Michael Straight married twice, Rothschild married twice and produced seven children. Hollis was married and had at least one child, and was rumoured to have had a heterosexual affair in Shanghai. I have never heard anything one way or the other about Cairncross' sexuality. -- Securiger 13:42, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] What was the impact?

The article seems to talk exclusively about who they were, and not what they did. What was the impact? Article should state: Did they inform the Soviets about British nuclear capability throughout the late 1950s; or did they keep the Soviets informed about changes to the Tube schedules? Tempshill (talk) 04:58, 8 January 2008 (UTC)