Thought @ 30/05/2003

By Anne Atkins

Half a century on, the files have been released, and it appears the confession was unnecessary: MI5 had no evidence against the spy, Klaus Fuchs. He even said over lunch to Jim Skardon, the man trying to nail him, "I will never be persuaded to talk." And yet, before the meal was over, he was urging Skardon back to his house, so he could answer his questions after all. It brought the end of his career, his British citizenship, even his liberty. Why did he do it? It's not unusual to hear of criminals longing to confess.

Why did Lady Macbeth prowl about in her sleep, publicly proclaiming her regicide? Or Oedipus probe at the truth about himself until it destroyed him? Why do we have confessionals, counsellors, friends we tell the worst? The pertinent phrase about the two men was when, as Skardon described it, "I suggested he should unburden his mind and clear his conscience."

The most widespread psychiatric problem is reported to be a sense of guilt. We all know we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and done those things which we ought not to have done... and the burden of them is intolerable. Ultimately, there is only one satisfactory way to relieve that burden, and Fuchs took it. Unbelievably, though, he didn't anticipate any adverse consequences. When MI5 expressed fears that he might attempt escape or suicide, Skardon reassured them: Fuchs was so confident in his abilities that he expected to keep his job - or even land a senior university post. So he continued to walk free, not being arrested and sentenced until later. And we often aren't faced with the cost of our actions immediately. Why do the wicked prosper, asks the Psalmist? Is God blind? No, he concludes; one day God will rise up, as if waking from a dream. He sees our actions long before we own up to them, just as Fuchs' guilt was known before he confessed.

Every day brings the Reckoning closer, whether we realise it or not. Eventually, after serving his sentence, Fuchs did genuinely go free. But his freedom started on the day he faced his guilt. Until we admit there's a case to answer, we can't begin to tackle the problem. Some years ago, the late Lord Hailsham was interviewed on television, and admitted to apprehension about the future. "Ah yes," said the presenter, "the way society is going." "No, no," said the lawyer, "the Day of Judgement." There was a stunned silence while the interviewer struggled with his embarrassment. Finally his Lordship concluded, "I only hope I have the sense to throw myself on the mercy of the Court."

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