I would say so. This statement, published in the Silmarillion's Valaquenta, derives from the Later QS, Second Phase (cf. HoME X, 3, II) and is more elaborately given in the Annals of Aman under the year 1500:
<font size="-2">"$17 Now Melkor knew of all that was done; for even then he had secret friends and spies among the Maiar whom he had converted to his cause, and of these the chief, as after became known, was Sauron, a great craftsman of the household of Aule." (HoME X, 2)
The following statement from the Later QS 1 differentiates between initial and later followers of Melkor:<font size="-2">
"But not all of the maiar were faithful to the Valar; for some were from the beginning drawn to the power of Melkor, and others he corrupted later to his service. Sauron was the name by which the chief of these was afterwards called, but he was not alone." (HoME X,3,1,1)
The latter statement seems to imply that Sauron was at least for some time a faithful follower of Aule, before he was drawn to Melkor and became his spy, leading the 'revolution' of some Maiar.
[ October 25, 2003: Message edited by: Sharkû ]
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