The information research department: Britain's secret Cold War weapon revealed

Review of International Studies

Volumn 24, Issue 3, 1998, Pages 353-369

  Wilford, Hugh ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0040577253     PISSN: 02602105     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0260210598003532     Document Type: Article

References (89)

1. Newspaper reports on the 1995 release of IRD papers included: Nicholas Bethell, 'Celebrity Team Used in Secret Anti-Soviet Campaign', The Times, 17 Aug. 1995; Scott Lucas, 'The Dirty Tricks that were Made in England', Independent on Sunday, 20 Aug. 1995; and Seumas Milne and Richard Norton-Taylor, 'Labour's Role in Secret Anti-Communist Plan Revealed', and 'BBC was Conscripted into MI6's Anti-Communist Crusade', Guardian. 18 Aug. 1995.
2. Newspaper reports on the 1995 release of IRD papers included: Nicholas Bethell, 'Celebrity Team Used in Secret Anti-Soviet Campaign', The Times, 17 Aug. 1995; Scott Lucas, 'The Dirty Tricks that were Made in England', Independent on Sunday, 20 Aug. 1995; and Seumas Milne and Richard Norton-Taylor, 'Labour's Role in Secret Anti-Communist Plan Revealed', and 'BBC was Conscripted into MI6's Anti-Communist Crusade', Guardian. 18 Aug. 1995.
3. Newspaper reports on the 1995 release of IRD papers included: Nicholas Bethell, 'Celebrity Team Used in Secret Anti-Soviet Campaign', The Times, 17 Aug. 1995; Scott Lucas, 'The Dirty Tricks that were Made in England', Independent on Sunday, 20 Aug. 1995; and Seumas Milne and Richard Norton-Taylor, 'Labour's Role in Secret Anti-Communist Plan Revealed', and 'BBC was Conscripted into MI6's Anti-Communist Crusade', Guardian. 18 Aug. 1995.
4. Reports on the 1996 release all highlighted documents revealing contacts between IRD and George Orwell (see below, n.68). See Ian Murray, 'Orwell was Recruited to Fight Soviet Propaganda', The Times, 11 Jul. 1996; Seumas Milne and Richard Norton-Taylor, 'Orwell Offered Blacklist', Guardian, 11 Jul. 1996; Tom Utley, 'Orwell is Revealed in Role of State Informer', Daily Telegraph, 12 Jul. 1996; and Ros Wynne-Jones, 'Orwell's Little List Leaves the Left Gasping for More', Independent on Sunday, 14 Jul. 1996.
5. Reports on the 1996 release all highlighted documents revealing contacts between IRD and George Orwell (see below, n.68). See Ian Murray, 'Orwell was Recruited to Fight Soviet Propaganda', The Times, 11 Jul. 1996; Seumas Milne and Richard Norton-Taylor, 'Orwell Offered Blacklist', Guardian, 11 Jul. 1996; Tom Utley, 'Orwell is Revealed in Role of State Informer', Daily Telegraph, 12 Jul. 1996; and Ros Wynne-Jones, 'Orwell's Little List Leaves the Left Gasping for More', Independent on Sunday, 14 Jul. 1996.
6. Reports on the 1996 release all highlighted documents revealing contacts between IRD and George Orwell (see below, n.68). See Ian Murray, 'Orwell was Recruited to Fight Soviet Propaganda', The Times, 11 Jul. 1996; Seumas Milne and Richard Norton-Taylor, 'Orwell Offered Blacklist', Guardian, 11 Jul. 1996; Tom Utley, 'Orwell is Revealed in Role of State Informer', Daily Telegraph, 12 Jul. 1996; and Ros Wynne-Jones, 'Orwell's Little List Leaves the Left Gasping for More', Independent on Sunday, 14 Jul. 1996.
7. Reports on the 1996 release all highlighted documents revealing contacts between IRD and George Orwell (see below, n.68). See Ian Murray, 'Orwell was Recruited to Fight Soviet Propaganda', The Times, 11 Jul. 1996; Seumas Milne and Richard Norton-Taylor, 'Orwell Offered Blacklist', Guardian, 11 Jul. 1996; Tom Utley, 'Orwell is Revealed in Role of State Informer', Daily Telegraph, 12 Jul. 1996; and Ros Wynne-Jones, 'Orwell's Little List Leaves the Left Gasping for More', Independent on Sunday, 14 Jul. 1996.
8. The records were released under the current 'Open government' policy. However, even now a number of documents have been retained by the Foreign Office, while many others have been expurgated.
9. A number of studies of IRD already exist, written prior to the recent release of documents. These include Richard J. Fletcher, 'British Propaganda since World War II - A Case Study', Media, Culture and Society, 4 (Apr. 1982), pp. 97-109; W. Scott Lucas and C. J. Morris, 'A Very British Crusade: The Information Research Department and the Beginning of the Cold War', in Richard J. Aldrich (ed.), British Intelligence, Strategy and the Cold War, 1945-51 (London, 1992) pp. 85-110; Lyn Smith, 'Covert British Propaganda: The Information Research Department, 1947-77', Millennium, 9:1 (Spring 1980), pp. 67-83; Wesley K. Wark, 'Coming in from the Cold: British Propaganda and Red Army Defectors, 1945-1952', International History Review, 9:1 (Feb. 1987), pp. 48-72; and Peter Weiler, British Labour and the Cold War (Stanford, CA, 1988), pp. 207-13. In the absence of the Department's own records, these studies made enterprising use of a variety of sources, including other Foreign Office classes, US State Department records, and Christopher Mayhew's private papers. All contain very valuable insights, to which the present study is indebted.
10. A number of studies of IRD already exist, written prior to the recent release of documents. These include Richard J. Fletcher, 'British Propaganda since World War II - A Case Study', Media, Culture and Society, 4 (Apr. 1982), pp. 97-109; W. Scott Lucas and C. J. Morris, 'A Very British Crusade: The Information Research Department and the Beginning of the Cold War', in Richard J. Aldrich (ed.), British Intelligence, Strategy and the Cold War, 1945-51 (London, 1992) pp. 85-110; Lyn Smith, 'Covert British Propaganda: The Information Research Department, 1947-77', Millennium, 9:1 (Spring 1980), pp. 67-83; Wesley K. Wark, 'Coming in from the Cold: British Propaganda and Red Army Defectors, 1945-1952', International History Review, 9:1 (Feb. 1987), pp. 48-72; and Peter Weiler, British Labour and the Cold War (Stanford, CA, 1988), pp. 207-13. In the absence of the Department's own records, these studies made enterprising use of a variety of sources, including other Foreign Office classes, US State Department records, and Christopher Mayhew's private papers. All contain very valuable insights, to which the present study is indebted.
11. A number of studies of IRD already exist, written prior to the recent release of documents. These include Richard J. Fletcher, 'British Propaganda since World War II - A Case Study', Media, Culture and Society, 4 (Apr. 1982), pp. 97-109; W. Scott Lucas and C. J. Morris, 'A Very British Crusade: The Information Research Department and the Beginning of the Cold War', in Richard J. Aldrich (ed.), British Intelligence, Strategy and the Cold War, 1945-51 (London, 1992) pp. 85-110; Lyn Smith, 'Covert British Propaganda: The Information Research Department, 1947-77', Millennium, 9:1 (Spring 1980), pp. 67-83; Wesley K. Wark, 'Coming in from the Cold: British Propaganda and Red Army Defectors, 1945-1952', International History Review, 9:1 (Feb. 1987), pp. 48-72; and Peter Weiler, British Labour and the Cold War (Stanford, CA, 1988), pp. 207-13. In the absence of the Department's own records, these studies made enterprising use of a variety of sources, including other Foreign Office classes, US State Department records, and Christopher Mayhew's private papers. All contain very valuable insights, to which the present study is indebted.
12. A number of studies of IRD already exist, written prior to the recent release of documents. These include Richard J. Fletcher, 'British Propaganda since World War II - A Case Study', Media, Culture and Society, 4 (Apr. 1982), pp. 97-109; W. Scott Lucas and C. J. Morris, 'A Very British Crusade: The Information Research Department and the Beginning of the Cold War', in Richard J. Aldrich (ed.), British Intelligence, Strategy and the Cold War, 1945-51 (London, 1992) pp. 85-110; Lyn Smith, 'Covert British Propaganda: The Information Research Department, 1947-77', Millennium, 9:1 (Spring 1980), pp. 67-83; Wesley K. Wark, 'Coming in from the Cold: British Propaganda and Red Army Defectors, 1945-1952', International History Review, 9:1 (Feb. 1987), pp. 48-72; and Peter Weiler, British Labour and the Cold War (Stanford, CA, 1988), pp. 207-13. In the absence of the Department's own records, these studies made enterprising use of a variety of sources, including other Foreign Office classes, US State Department records, and Christopher Mayhew's private papers. All contain very valuable insights, to which the present study is indebted.
13. A number of studies of IRD already exist, written prior to the recent release of documents. These include Richard J. Fletcher, 'British Propaganda since World War II - A Case Study', Media, Culture and Society, 4 (Apr. 1982), pp. 97-109; W. Scott Lucas and C. J. Morris, 'A Very British Crusade: The Information Research Department and the Beginning of the Cold War', in Richard J. Aldrich (ed.), British Intelligence, Strategy and the Cold War, 1945-51 (London, 1992) pp. 85-110; Lyn Smith, 'Covert British Propaganda: The Information Research Department, 1947-77', Millennium, 9:1 (Spring 1980), pp. 67-83; Wesley K. Wark, 'Coming in from the Cold: British Propaganda and Red Army Defectors, 1945-1952', International History Review, 9:1 (Feb. 1987), pp. 48-72; and Peter Weiler, British Labour and the Cold War (Stanford, CA, 1988), pp. 207-13. In the absence of the Department's own records, these studies made enterprising use of a variety of sources, including other Foreign Office classes, US State Department records, and Christopher Mayhew's private papers. All contain very valuable insights, to which the present study is indebted.
14. See Beatrice Heuser, 'Stalin as Hitler's Successor: Western Interpretations of the Soviet Threat', in Beatrice Heuser and Robert O'Neill, (eds.), Securing Peace in Europe, 1945-62: Thoughts for the Post-Cold War Era (London, 1992), pp. 17-40.
15. See Weiler, British Labour, pp. 198-9.
16. See Raymond Smith, 'Ernest Bevin, British Officials and British Soviet Policy, 1945-47', in Ann Deighton (ed.), Britain and the First Cold War (London, 1990), pp. 41-2.
17. See Christopher Mayhew, Time to Explain (London, 1987), pp. 105-7.
18. See Jonathan Wood, 'A "Third Way"?: The Labour Left, Democratic Socialism and the Cold War', in Jim Fyrth (ed.), Labour's Promised Land? Culture and Society in Labour Britain, 1945-51 (London, 1995), pp. 73-87; and John W. Young and John Kent, 'British Policy Overseas: The "Third Force" and the Origins of NATO - In Search of a New Perspective', in Heuser and O'Neill, (eds.), Securing Peace, pp. 41-61.
19. See Jonathan Wood, 'A "Third Way"?: The Labour Left, Democratic Socialism and the Cold War', in Jim Fyrth (ed.), Labour's Promised Land? Culture and Society in Labour Britain, 1945-51 (London, 1995), pp. 73-87; and John W. Young and John Kent, 'British Policy Overseas: The "Third Force" and the Origins of NATO - In Search of a New Perspective', in Heuser and O'Neill, (eds.), Securing Peace, pp. 41-61.
20. For more detail on the institutional and ideological origins of IRD, see Lucas and Morris, 'A Very British Crusade', pp. 88-96; and Weiler, British Labour, pp. 191-207.
21. For more detail on the institutional and ideological origins of IRD, see Lucas and Morris, 'A Very British Crusade', pp. 88-96; and Weiler, British Labour, pp. 191-207.
22. 'Future Foreign Publicity', memorandum by Ernest Bevin, 4 Jan. 1948. FO 1110/1/1.
23. Smith, 'Ernest Bevin', p. 79; Mayhew, Time to Explain, p. 107.
24. Smith, 'Ernest Bevin', p. 79; Mayhew, Time to Explain, p. 107.
25. Fletcher, 'British Propaganda', p. 98. Despite the secrecy, it seems likely that details of IRD were known to the Soviets from the start. Quite apart from Philby, Guy Burgess was briefly on the new department's staff in 1948, until being dismissed for incompetent work. Mayhew, Time to Explain, pp. 109-10.
26. Fletcher, 'British Propaganda', p. 98. Despite the secrecy, it seems likely that details of IRD were known to the Soviets from the start. Quite apart from Philby, Guy Burgess was briefly on the new department's staff in 1948, until being dismissed for incompetent work. Mayhew, Time to Explain, pp. 109-10.
27. War Office, memorandum to Military Attachés. 19 Jul. 1948. FO 1110/14/753. For further details of this arrangement, see 'Anti-Communist Propaganda', memorandum by Sir Norman Brooks, Mar. 1948. FO 1110/38/137.
28. US Embassy, London, telegram to Secretary of State, Washington, 20 May 1949. Quoted in Smith, 'Ernest Bevin', p. 73.
29. 'Anti-Communist Publicity', memorandum by Ernest Bevin, 30 Apr. 1948. FO 1110/9/361. Copies of all IRD's 'Basic Papers' can be found in FO 975.
30. Ralph Murray, memorandum, n.d. FO 1110/87/590.
31. Information Research Department, 'Anti-Communist Publicity - Summary Progress Report, 1st January to 31st July, 1949', n.d. FO 1110/277/112.
32. Christopher Mayhew, memorandum to Secretary of State, n.d. FO 1110/277/112.
33. Mayhew, Time to Explain, pp. 111-12.
34. Christopher Mayhew, memorandum to Christopher Warner, 24 Mar. 1948. FO 1110/41/142.
35. Quoted in Smith, 'Ernest Bevin', p. 70.
36. Christopher Mayhew, letter to Herbert Morrison, 17 Jul. 1948. FO 1110/41/445.
37. See Mayhew, Time to Explain, pp. 110-11, for a detailed account of this incident.
38. In a letter of 28 September, Mayhew requested that IRD provide him with 'crisp debating points' as opposed to 'the more scholarly papers' produced to date, drew Murray's attention to propaganda items which IRD appeared to have overlooked, and suggested that the Department send a representative to Paris to assist the British delegation. In a highly defensive reply Murray pointed out that the delegation 'did not in fact consult us at all before they went', complained that last-minute requests for material 'had loaded my Department with a frantic amount of work', and stated that the 'weakness' of IRD's current resources meant it could not spare any staff for Paris. Christopher Mayhew, letter to Ralph Murray, 28 Sept. 1948. FO 1110/14/839. Ralph Murray, letter to Christopher Mayhew, 1 Oct. 1948. FO 1110/14/839.
39. Christopher Warner, memorandum to Christopher Mayhew, 8 May 1948. FO 1110/10/442. In her study of British information work in the US during the late 1940s, Caroline Anstey notes that Foreign Office officials constantly sought to de-emphasize 'the socialist issue' and package Britain in wrap designed to appeal to American capitalist eyes. For their part, Labour ministers felt some hostility towards FO staff. See Caroline Anstey, 'The Projection of British Socialism: Foreign Office Publicity and American Opinion, 1945-50', Journal of Contemporary History, 19 (1984), pp. 417-51.
40. See James Oliver, 'Britain and the Covert War of Words: The Information Research Department and Sponsored Publishing', MA dissertation, University of Kent, 1995, p. 14.
41. Christopher Mayhew, memorandum to Secretary of State, n.d. FO 1110/277/112.
42. See, e.g., Stephen Dorril, 'The Puppet Masters', Guardian, 18 Aug. 1995.
43. Oliver, 'Britain and the Covert War of Words', p. 13.
44. Ibid.
45. See Weiler, British Labour.
46. Christopher Mayhew, memorandum to Christopher Warner, 6 May 1948. FO 1110/10/442.
47. 'Anti-Communist Publicity', memorandum by Ernest Bevin, 30 Apr. 1948. FO 1110/9/361.
48. Denis Healey, letter to J. H. Watson, 2 Nov. 1948. FO 1110/15/993.
49. Denis Healey, letter to J. H. Watson, 8 Dec. 1948. FO 1110/15/1211. Healey performed a similar service for IRD with regard to socialists in Burma.
50. J. H. Watson, letter to Denis Healey, 10 Dec. 1948. FO 1110/15/1211.
51. Denis Healey, letter to J. H. Watson, 17 Dec. 1948. FO 1110/15/1272.
52. This concern with reaching 'those elements which have "advanced" views' was further demonstrated in 1949 when IRD decided to sponsor the distribution of Tribune to Missions abroad. IRD, circular letter to Information Officers. 4 Mar. 1949. FO 1110/221/442.
53. Quoted in Weiler, British Labour, p. 218.
54. Christopher Mayhew, memorandum to Christopher Warner, 17 Jun. 1948. FO 1110/11/533.
55. Christopher Warner, memorandum to Christopher Mayhew, 16 Jun. 1948. FO 1110/11/553.
56. Christopher Mayhew, minutes, 8 Sept. 1948. FO 1110/13/617. Mayhew went on, 'We should agree to do this as far as possible without compromising IFF [International Freedom First] as an independent T. U. paper . . . I shall expect the greatest discretion to be observed.' On the same file Ralph Murray noted that Herbert Tracey had discussed the proposal with Denis Healey.
57. Information Officers were told by the FO that 'The Defence of Democracy Trust' was acting 'entirely unofficially'. Foreign Office, letter to Information Officers, 30 Jul. 1948. FO 1110/11/533.
58. See Weiler, British Labour, pp. 217-19.
59. IRD, circular letter to Missions, 31 Jan. 1949. FO 1110/213/22.
60. Ralph Murray, memorandum to Christopher Mayhew, 10 Apr. 1949. FO 1110/221/1589.
61. See FO 1110/261/76 and FO 1110/275/106.
62. Ralph Murray, minutes, 17 Feb. 1948. FO 1110/16/22.
63. Ralph Murray, minutes, 1 Mar. 1948. FO 1110/16/22.
64. 'Anti-Communist Publicity', memorandum by Ernest Bevin, 30 Apr. 1948. FO 1110/9/361. In April 1948, telegrams were sent to British posts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Paris and China, ordering the monitoring of BBC broadcasts over a two-week period. See, e.g., Foreign Office, circular telegram to Cairo, 18 Apr. 1948. FO 1110/49/228.
65. 'Anti-Communist Publicity', memorandum by Ernest Bevin, 30 Apr. 1948. FO 1110/9/361. In April 1948, telegrams were sent to British posts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Paris and China, ordering the monitoring of BBC broadcasts over a two-week period. See, e.g., Foreign Office, circular telegram to Cairo, 18 Apr. 1948. FO 1110/49/228.
66. Christopher Warner, minutes, 10 Oct. 1948. FO 1110/128/865. Similar arrangements were made with regard to the London Press Service. In February Murray laid down guidelines for the LPS very like those he proposed for the BBC. Daily contact between IRD and LPS editorial staff commenced on 4 October. Meanwhile IRD staff closely monitored LPS output to see if it reflected the new publicity policy. See FO 1110/39/139, FO 1110/123/846 and FO 1110/150/1018.
67. Lucas and Morris, 'A Very British Crusade', p. 92.
68. Sir Maurice Peterson, letter to Christopher Warner, 17 Feb. 1948. FO 1110/16/10.
69. Christopher Warner, letter to Sir Maurice Peterson, 6 Mar. 1948. FO 1110/16/10.
70. G. R. Barnes, letter to Christopher Warner, 10 Mar. 1948. FO 1110/16/10.
71. B. Ruthven-Murray, minutes, 23 May 1949. FO 1110/224/2462. Christopher Warner, minutes, 21 Jul. 1949. FO 1110/224/2462.
72. See Smith, 'Ernest Bevin', p. 72.
73. See ibid., pp. 75-7; and Fletcher, 'British Propaganda', pp. 104-6. During 1949, IRD approached several independent publishers, including Oxford University Press and Penguin, with proposals for collaborative arrangements. Leslie Sheridan, letter to Allen Lane, 2 Jun. 1949. FO 1110/221/1373. Ralph Murray, memorandum to Christopher Mayhew, 10 Apr. 1949. FO 1110/221/1589.
74. See ibid., pp. 75-7; and Fletcher, 'British Propaganda', pp. 104-6. During 1949, IRD approached several independent publishers, including Oxford University Press and Penguin, with proposals for collaborative arrangements. Leslie Sheridan, letter to Allen Lane, 2 Jun. 1949. FO 1110/221/1373. Ralph Murray, memorandum to Christopher Mayhew, 10 Apr. 1949. FO 1110/221/1589.
75. Koestler met with J. H. Watson on 10 February 1949 to discuss 'the need for combating Communist penetration in Israel and Mapam.' J. H. Watson, minutes, 11 Feb. 1949. FO 1110/215/338. Orwell was visited by his friend, IRD worker Celia Kirwin, while he lay ill in a sanatorium in Gloucestershire. They discussed, inter alia, possible contacts for IRD amongst Orwell's acquaintances. Subsequently he wrote to Kirwin offering to provide a list of names of Communist-sympathizing individuals whom the Departments should not approach. She eagerly accepted this offer. Celia Kirwin, minutes, 30 Mar. 1949. FO 1110/189/1135. George Orwell, letter to Celia Kirwin, 6 Apr. 1949. FO 1110/189/1135. Celia Kirwin, letter to Georgr Orwell, 30 Apr. 1949. FO 1110/189/1135. Press coverage of the release of 1949 IRD papers in July 1996 devoted much attention to the documents concerning Orwell. See above, n.2.
76. See Weiler, British Labour, pp. 210-11.
77. See Hugh Wilford, The New York Intellectuals: From Vanguard to Institution (Manchester, 1995), chs. 7-8.
78. Christopher Warner, letter to Sir John Balfour, 16 Feb. 1948. FO 1110/1/7.
79. Ralph Murray, letter to C. Holt, 23 Nov. 1948. FO 1110/122/1032.
80. Christopher Warner, minutes, 8 Nov. 1948. FO 1110/128/1034.
81. J. H. Watson, minutes, 21 Dec. 1948. FO 1110/129/1188.
82. IRD records for 1949 include files on Anglo-American cooperation in Indonesia, French Morocco, Cuba, Portugal, the Philippines, Yugoslavia, Rumania, Guatemala and Brazil.
83. Christopher Warner, letter to Denis Allen, 3 Nov. 1949. FO 1110/236/3128. Christopher Warner, letter to Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar, 31 Dec. 1949. FO 1110/236/4078.
84. Deighton (ed.), Britain and the First Cold War, p. 4.
85. See Scott Lucas, 'Campaigns of Truth: American Ideology, Psychological Strategy, and Liberation, 1947-54', International History Review, forthcoming.
86. Christopher Warner, letter to Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar, 22 Sept. 1948. FO 1110/14/801.
87. Christopher Warner, letter to Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar, 31 Dec. 1949. FO 1110/236/4078. The IRD worker in question was Denis Healey's friend J. H. Watson.
88. Lucas, 'Dirty Tricks'.
89. Lucas and Morris, A Very British Crusade', p. 99.