Table Of Contentr *
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
