In 1953, Rees became principal of the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth. In 1956, a series of articles appeared in "The People". They described their anonymous author as a "Most intimate friend, a man in a high academic position." Guy Burgess appeared in them as a corrupt man, spy, blackmailer, homosexual, and drunk. "The Daily Telegraph" then revealed Rees was author. The university held an inquiry into the matter (1956-1957). Despite student support, university staff did not support him. Rees resigned before the inquiry ended, thus also ending his academic career. The inquiry's report was very critical of Rees. Moreover, "It turned out that a great many old acquaintances of Burgess and Maclean were much more horrified – felt, indeed, much more betrayed – by the fact that the late Goronwy Rees gave a version of their flight to the "People" than by the flight itself. When Stephen Spender showed the "Daily Express" a friend’s letter about Burgess, he was held to have disgraced himself."