Ransome & the British Secret Services


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Posted by Phil Tomaselli on March 01, 2005 at 01:50:47 from 212.211.102.3 user Phil_T.

Release of MI5's Files on Arthur Ransome to National Archives at Kew

The files compiled by the British Security Service (MI5) on British author and journalist Arthur Ransome take place today (1st March 2005). Ransome spent several years during and after the Revolutions of 1917 working in Russia and was closely associated with leading Bolsheviks. By a stroke of good luck I was able to obtain pre-release access.

Given my previous form on this issue, I am willing to concede that the notes I was able to take might be seen to be prejudiced in favour of the "AR as British Spy" theory. At least now most of the documents ever likely to be placed in the public domain are available. There may yet be documents exclusive to the files of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), better known as MI6, but these are unlikely ever to see the light of day.

The Files are referenced KV2/1903 and KV2/1904 and cover the period 1917 to 1937.

Naturally, given MI5's interest in him, there are several letters and signals on the files which mark him as a Bolshevik suspect but few of these come (in my opinion) from sources that might be aware of his SIS connections.

In support of my theory that he was an SIS agent I quote the following:

"He is quite loyal and willing to help by giving information and that his appearance of working against us is due to his friendship with the Bolshevik leaders, not by any means to any sympathy with the regime, which the terror has made him detest. We expect to get a lot of most valuable stuff from him." 29/08/18 signal from an unnamed MI1c (SIS) Major.

From a Foreign Office telegram from Mr Clive, Stockholm dated 01/02/19:

"Confidential. I understand that his going to Moscow was arranged through the assistance of the Military Attache". The Military Attache was Major J D Scale, SIS Station Chief in Stockholm.

From a "Memorandum re Arthur Ransome (S76) dated 17/03/19:

"S76 is not a Bolshevik….His association with the Bolsheviks was begun, and has continued throughout at the direct request of responsible British authorities……I would specially emphasise in conclusion that S76 may be regarded as absolutely honest."

Though there are several mentions on the file that British Consul Robert Bruce Lockhart considered him a dangerous Bolshevik a positive letter from Lockhart dated 02/05/19 says "I think he has in many ways been wrongfully abused."

Of particular interest (and it will be interesting to see if the British Press pick up on this, in spite of my announcing it in a loud voice at the pre-release viewing):

Signal from R B Lockhart to Foreign Office dated 21/06/18:

"A very useful lady who has worked here in extremely confidential position in a Government Office desires to give up her present position. She has been of the greatest service to me and is anxious to establish herself in Stockholm where she would be centre of information regarding underground agitation in Russia in event of of Bolsheviks being overthrown by Germans. Not only have her services to the Allies been considerable but it would be highly important to us to have inside information of future movement. Lady is not a Bolshevik…. I wish to have authority to put her on Mr Ransome's passport as his wife…"

I believe this is the first information ever published showing that Evgenia was a British Secret Agent.

The files run on in a desultory fashion to 1937 when WR is removed from the Blacklist by order of MI5's Russia expert Miss Sissmore.

No doubt the British press will run variations on this today. I am quite open to debate on this for as long as it runs and have more information on the subject than appears in MI5's files.

Phil Tomaselli



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