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r * Britain’s Security and Secret Intelligence Services MI5 and MI6 are the oldest of the world's security and secret intelligence agencies; they both have long and incident-packed careers dating back before World War I. Much of their story has become legend: the exploits of 'Ace of Spies' Sidney Reilly in revolutionary Russia; the spectacular triumphs of World War II with Doublecross and Ultra; the treachery of Philby, Blunt, Burgess and Maclean; the cracking of the Portland spy ring; and the ‘molehunt' that tore MI5 apart when its own chief was suspected of being a Soviet spy. But no less fascinating has been the unobtrusive development of the techniques and technology of espionage over the years, that has transformed intelligence work from a game for amateurs into an ultramodern hi-tech profession. In recent years the public has been treated to an apparently endless series of shock revelations about MI5 and MI6. But what is the truth behind this lurid sensationalism? M 15/M 16: Britain's Security and Secret Intelligence Services examines the real facts behind the controversies. It offers a more balanced view, an unbiassed analysis of both success and failure, presenting for the first time a complete history of the two organizations from their origins to the present day in a single concise volume. Rare amongst books on this subject, this work is profusely illustrated with 250 photographs of the leading personalities, the key events and the special equipment of the world of spies and espionage. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation https://archive.org/details/mi5mi6britainsse0000gran MI6 Britain’s Security and Secret Intelligence Services Published by Gallery Books page 2: Sir Maurice A Division of W H Smith Publishers Inc. Oldfield, head of MI6 112 Madison Avenue 1973-78 (bottom left); New York, New York 10016 IRA terrorist; Sir Percy Produced by Sillitoe, head of MI5 Brompton Books Corp, 1946-53 (top right). 15 Sherwood Place Greenwich, CT 06830 page 3: The Berlin Wall looking east (left); Copyright © 1989 Brompton Books Corp. Anthony Blunt, the Soviet spy who was a friend of All rights reserved. No part of this the Queen. publication may be reproduced or transmitted THIS PAGE, above: A in any form or by any means without written miniature camera permission from the copyright owner. concealed in a cigarette case, used by KGB spy ISBN 0-8317-5704-3 Douglas Britten, an RAF Printed in Hong Kong technician. 10 987654321 CONTENTS Introduction 6 CHAPTER 1 Origins 8 CHAPTER 2 War and Revolution 18 CHAPTER 3 A Gentleman’s Profession 38 CHAPTER 4 Double Cross and Ultra 58 CHAPTER 5 Stalin’s Englishmen 80 CHAPTER 6 The New Professionals no CHAPTER 7 Molehunters and Defectors 138 CHAPTER 8 The Politics of Secrecy 154 Postscript 176 Appendix and Bibliography 190 Index 191 INTRODUCTION In 1989 the British security service MI5 (Mili¬ of convoluted plots and intrigue, blunders tary Intelligence 5) and MI6, the secret in¬ and triumphs. But it is also a story that telligence service, celebrated their eightieth poses some extremely serious questions anniversaries. They are the oldest of the about the ultimate worth of the secret great intelligence bureaucracies that now services. Just how good is the intelligence span the globe, though no longer the most they have provided over the years? Have important. Two of the most secretive they tended to pursue their own interests - organizations in the world, they have iron¬ and their own political line - independently below: An SF (Special ically had to learn to live with a high level of of the government they are meant to serve? Facilities) microphone public interest and media investigation. Is secrecy a cloak for incompetence and designed to fit into a telephone handset. MI5 Their very secretiveness has stimulated illegality? operatives have curiosity and provoked sensational revela¬ One point must always be born in mind. sometimes disguised tions by former officers - from Harold 'Kim' Even today, our knowledge of the activities themselves as telephone Philby, the Soviet mole in MI6, to Peter of MI5 and MI6 remains very imperfect. repairmen to install SF in Wright, disgruntled molehunter turned Tas¬ Many of the stories about them are un- a building under manian farmer. Without these leaks, it checkable and different accounts of the surveillance. This bugging would have been impossible to write a same events are often contradictory. device is not used to history of either MI5 or MI6. Revelations have always come from people listen in to phone calls - Now that the two services have been who might well have an interest in distort¬ that can be done in much dragged out of the darkness into the lime¬ ing the facts. Espionage and counter¬ easier ways - but to pick light and many of their secrets exposed, espionage exist in what CIA officer James up conversations in the room where the their story can be told with at least a degree Angleton called ‘a wilderness of mirrors’. telephone is placed. of confidence. It is an extraordinary tale, full Truth is elusive in this secret world. 6