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AND TO SAVING WARSAW, UKDEL WASHINGTON, YAOUNDE, MANAGUA
121425
MD LOAN 3121
PETER WRIGHT CASE
INTRODUCTION (UNCLASSIFIED)
1.
SERVICE
THE
THE NEW SOUTH WALES COURT OF APPEAL IN SYDNEY
DECIDED ON 24 SEPTEMBER BY A TWO TO ONE MAJORITY (WITH THE
CHIEF JUSTICE DISSENTING) AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S APPLICATION
FOR AN INJUNCTION TO PREVENT PETER WRIGHT AND HEINEMANN
(AUSTRALIA) FROM PUBLISHING INFORMATION DERIVED FROM HIS
AND AGAINST OUR APPLICATION FOR AN ACCOUNT FOR PROFITS. GOVERNMENT HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BE APPLYING ON 28
FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE INTERIM COURT ORDER RESTRAINING PUBLICATION OF SPYCATCHER AND THEREAFTER FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL TO
THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA.
LINE TO TAKE (UNCLASSIFIED)
2.
SEPTEMBER
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONTINUING WITH THE CASE BECAUSE
OF THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLE THAT PETER WRIGHT AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE SECURITY SERVICE OWES A LIFELONG DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY TO THE CROWN. THIS
PRINCIPLE IS ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SECURITY SERVICE. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF ATTEMPTING TO KEEP SECRET THE
CONTENTS OF ONE PARTICULAR BOOK.
ADDITIONAL POINTS (UNCLASSIFIED)
3
(PUBLICATION OF THE BOOK IN US/CANADA).
PUBLICATION
THE GOVERNMENT WAS ADVISED THAT LEGAL ACTION TO PREVENT
PUBLICATION IN THE US/CANADA WOULD NOT SUCCEED. OF THE BOOK THERE HOWEVER IN NO WAY AFFECTS THE PRINCIPLE OF WRIGHT'S DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT HE OR ANY PUBLISHER SHOULD SEEK TO DEFEND A FURTHER BREACH OF
THAT DUTY BY RELYING ON AN EARLIER ONE.
BACKGROUND (CONFIDENTIAL) (FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION)
4.
PETER WRIGHT WAS A MEMBER OF THE SECURITY SERVICE FROM 1955 TO 1976 AND SPYCATCHER PURPORTS TO BE A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF HIS WORK FOR THE SECURITY SERVICE DURING THIS TIME. THE GOVERNMENT LOST THE FIRST ROUND IN THE NEW SOUTH WALES
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