The Secret History of MI6 - Keith Jeffery [199]
Nor was this the only achievement. Menzies claimed on the economic side that the Service was about ‘to obtain complete details of the traffic on the Rhine and Danube, apart from numerous other schemes on behalf of the M.E.W. [Ministry of Economic Warfare], which are rapidly ripening now that funds are available’. He also noted that since its establishment only ‘about eighteen months ago’ the Communications Section VIII had developed to such an extent that it had ‘no rival in the world’. It had been the ‘sole means of communication for the Military section during the Polish campaign’, and a ‘very intricate’ wireless scheme was nearing completion ‘to ensure a regular flow of information should the Low Countries be invaded’. Rex Howard also emphasised communications. ‘In face of considerable difficulty’, he wrote, wireless facilities had been developed, so that the Service was now in ‘communication with the majority of our representatives abroad’. In addition, ‘the use of agents’ W/T sets has been developed, and we now have a certain number functioning in enemy territory, and also from neutral countries’. As a sideswipe against captious criticism (and stressing the dangers and difficulties of secret service work was an understandable reaction), Howard went on to suggest that ‘if the individual or individuals who are now attacking S.I.S. efficiency, will use their imagination, would they kindly picture themselves in the position of an individual who is operating a set in one of the foregoing countries, with all the penalties likely to ensue if discovered’.
Along with this robust defence of the Service, Howard added a cautionary note about the reporting of German warship movements, which throws instructive light on both the limitations and the ambitions of early wartime espionage. In the ‘last war, owing to W/T interception, immediate information was received when ships were raising steam, and their movements when they left harbour’. Because the Germans now maintained wireless silence, this was no longer possible, ‘and consequently the Admiralty have appeared to become more dependent on our information, which can only be obtained from resident agents in Germany equipped with W/T sets, or sending agents into Germany, or communicating with agents resident in Germany by means of couriers’. As this presented very considerable difficulties (to put it mildly), Howard considered ‘that ship movements must be obtained to a much larger extent by air reconnaissance by day and patrols by night. In spite of repeated endeavours, it has not yet been found possible to establish a reliable agent in one of the German naval ports who could be equipped with a W/T set in communication with us.’
Other reports by the heads of the Circulating Sections highlighted two perennial problems for the Service. These concerned the nature of the intelligence requested and obtained, and the process through which the intelligence was provided. In the first case there was the contrast between longer-term political and strategic intelligence and much more focused and immediate technical information, together with what might be called tactical intelligence. The former category was generally in most demand from the Foreign Office, while the latter was of greater interest for the armed services. This was especially so in wartime when, for example, intelligence about the likelihood of German offensive operations, or some general estimate of enemy capabilities,