CHAPTER SIX - PART B
May 14, 1936
Buckingham Palace
London
“Your Majesty, I believe that the Home Secretary has some information that Council would like to be aware of,” spoke Churchill.
“Aye, Your Majesty, Your Highness, m’lords, that I do,” spoke a troubled looking Simon. Handing out a report stamped SECRET: MI-5, he began.
“After some troubling information came to my attention, I have had to order a significant re-organization of MI-5. To give you all the background, Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair, “C” at MI-6, was advised by sources in the Soviet Union that the NKVD (Soviet secret police/intelligence gathering department) had infiltrated not only MI-5 and MI-6, but also several other arms of the government. The source of this information “C” would not disclose to me, but from the reaction he was giving me, I was only able to conclude that the information was nearly infallible. Moving as quickly and as quietly as possible, I had Vernon Kell replaced by David Petrie from MI-6. Petrie has conducted a quick investigation, more like an inquisition truthfully, of MI-5 and has come up with this report.”
As the other members of the Council started to flip through the report in front of them, Simon continued,
“As you can read, Petrie seized upon an internal memo from MI-5 officer Miles Humphrey who advocated turning the any spies found and having them used as double agents against the Empire’s enemies rather than simply arresting and trying these agents. Using that leverage, Petrie was able to discover a group that has become known to MI-5 as the Cambridge Four.”
The Cambridge Four
Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean, and "Kim" Philby
“Good God,” exclaimed Eden as he reached the point in the report that listed the members of the Cambridge Four.
“How accurate is this information, Sir John,” asked the King with a very concerned look upon his brow.
“Your Majesty, each of these… individuals have confessed to their crimes.”
“H.A.R. Philby, known as “Kim”, son of St. John Philby of the Foreign Office, was recruited one Willi Munzenberg, a Commintern agent in Paris, to assist in the Communists efforts in the British Isles,” continued the Home Secretary.
“Donald Duart MacLean, son of Sir Donald MacLean, was recruited and is being handled directly by the Soviet NKVD’s Rezident in London, Anatoli Gorsky. Guy F. De Moncy Burgess, currently working for The Times and the BBC, is being tasked by the Commintern to subvert the media of the Empire to the goals of the Commintern. Finally, we have Anthony Blunt who was recruited by the NKVD in 1934 and tasked with doing his utmost to recruit deep cover long term agents from the students at Cambridge since the Government recruits heavily from the college.”
“These are sons of the best of the Empire,” said a clearly shocked Churchill.
“Aye, they are,” replied Simon,
“and that is what makes these findings all the more troubling, Your Majesty.”
“What steps have you taken thus far, Sir John,” asked the King.
“Your Majesty, Petrie has fully turned all four of these individuals,” he said with a certain amount of distaste,
“and they have all agreed to work for MI-6 against the Communists.”
“How can Petrie be certain that they will fulfill their agreement,” asked the Prince, his anger at the actions of the four clearly visible in his body language.
“After all, they turned against the Crown once, they could do it second time.”
“I had the same concern, Your Highness,” replied Simon,
“however, Petrie made it clear that MI-5 would be watching these individuals very closely and has made it known to them that the MI-5 agents watching them have been given instructions to eliminate them the moment there is a sign that they have turned traitor a second time. Additionally, from the information “C” has provided, MI-6 has prepared information to be leaked to the Communists that would paint all four in some very negative lighting that would make it uncomfortable for them to return to the Communist fold.”
Cooper spoke up at this point,
“What sort of inroads have been made by these four and the Communists into the Government, Sir John?”
Looking quite uncomfortable, Simon replied,
“Well, Duff, that is information that generally I would not like to discuss until everything has been double checked and authenticated.”
“That is understandable,” said Lord Hailsham, speaking for the first time since the meeting began,
“however, in something of this magnitude, the Privy Council should have at least an inkling of the damage.”
“I agree,” said Lord Halifax. Turning toward the King he continued,
“I understand Sir John’s reluctance to disclose this information, Your Majesty, however, the Council should have at least some information so that we know what we are facing within our own departments.”
“As much as I would rather not go against the professional opinions of Sir John and the heads of MI-5 and MI-6,” spoke the King heavily,
“I have to agree. What do you have, Sir John?”
“Your Majesty, there are indications that Burgess has close ties with George Dawson, the editor of The Times, who has close personal ties with Chancellor Chamberlain.”
There were several pregnant heartbeats of dead silence while the room’s occupants slowly took in Simon’s reply, the implications, and then turned to look at a shocked Chamberlain.
Standing unsteadily the Chancellor spoke very slowly,
“Your Majesty, you must believe me that I have no realistic connection with these individuals and will guarantee that Mr. Dawson is far from a Communist sympathizer.”
“The same could have been said by anyone in this room about these Cambridge Four prior to today’s meeting, Chancellor,” the Prince retorted acidly.
Placing a restraining hand on his brother’s arm the King spoke simply in the royal plural,
“We understand your shock at this, Neville, however, it may be in the best interest of the Crown that we allow MI-5 to complete its investigation before me make any statements about guarantees.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied a very pale Chamberlain.
“In the mean time,” the King continued, his voice growing colder,
“we suggest you turn over your duties to one of your assistants, retire yourself to your home, and make yourself available to MI-5, is that understood?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Chamberlain meekly replied, the full realization that all of his political planning had just been shattered and no amount of savvy, cunning or dirty tricks could save his career or himself if the investigation found anything against him.
Motioning for one of his aide, the King finished.
“George will escort you outside and then arrange for your transport to your home. I will not add that I expect that you will not do anything that would in anyway hamper the investigation into this matter.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” came the subdued and mumbled reply.
“Very good. George, please take the Chancellor home.”
“At once, Your Majesty,” came the crisp reply.
“Chancellor Chamberlain, if you would walk this way?”
As the in all likelihood disgraced Chamberlain was escorted from the room, the royal brothers exchanged looks before turning to examine the remaining members of the Privy Council. They found stunned shock giving way to outraged at the information provided, each member of the Council realizing not only the magnitude of the possible damage but also the lengths the Crown was willing to take to preserve the Empire.
The disgraced Chancellor, Neville Chamberlain
“I would take it for granted,” Prince Albert began slowly several quite and very tense minutes after the Chancellor’s exit,
“m’lords and gentleman, that you will all ensure that not only what was discussed here today remains in this room, but all such conversations held by the Council would be as well.”
“Good,” spoke the King as each member vehemently gave his assent to the Prince’s question.
“Sir John, do you have anything else to share with the Council?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Duff, does the Sir Archibald and Imperial General Staff have anything to share?”
“Other than the imminent arrival of the new British Army of Sub-Sahara in Port Sudan and their beginning of operations to secure the border with this new Italian East Africa, no Your Majesty, the War Office has nothing.”
“What about the RAF and the Air Ministry, Lord Swinton,” the King asked next.
“Your Majesty, several of our aircraft companies are working on some prototypes for several new aircraft, and the Sir Cyril is having the RAF’s new Technology Command working on some sort of apparatus to detect aircraft with some brains down at Cambridge, but nothing ready for a presentation to the Council about,” came the reply.
“I’m sure my brother the pilot here would be quite interested about the new aircraft,” the King replied with a grin. “
Do you think you could arrange something, m’lord?”
“To late, Your Majesty,” Lord Swinton replied with a soft chuckle.
“His Highness has already made himself known to the companies in question, and if I am correct has already been able to talk them into letting His Highness take with of the crates up into the air.”
“Quite correct, m’lord,” the Prince replied with a smug grin.
“If Supermarine can work all the bugs out of that prototype I flew, the RAF will be very, very happy with the newest addition to the squadrons.”
“My brother the pilot,” chuckled the King looking heavenward as if looking for divine assistance.
“Right, what about the First Sea Lord, Lord Monsell, what of the Fleet?”
“The Fleet, Your Majesty,” replied Lord Monsell,
“is in excellent state, however, First Sea Lord Admiral Chatfield wanted me to advise the Council and Your Majesty that the Fleet could use a few more destroyer flotillas and a cruiser or two.”
“The day the Royal Navy stops asking for more ships,” laughed Churchill,
“is the day after the Empire has fallen!”
Laughing with the rest of the Council, the King agreed,
“Quite right, Winston, quite right indeed. Lord Monsell, please advised the First Sea Lord that we will do what we can for him, but seeing as the Royal Navy has been getting that message for the last two hundred years, I’m quite sure he is expecting it.”
With that, the meeting came to an end. Leaving first, the royal brothers continued the conversation they had been having when they first walked into the Council chambers. “
I told you, Edward, the Communist and Socialist threat is greater to the Empire and the world than everyone realizes! Just imagine what kind of damage could have been done to the interests of Britain if MI-5 hadn’t discovered those Red’s from Cambridge?”
“I know, Albert,” the King replied in a tone that made it known this was far from the first or second time his brother had made this position known to him.
“However, until we have no proof, we cannot truly believe that the Communists are truly working for the downfall of the Empire, despite their public outcries.”
“Edward,” the Prince replied with a heavy heart,
“I hope I’m wrong, but I fear that attitude of yours may end up being the death of you.”
Stopping in the hallway and turning to place his hand on his younger brother’s shoulder, the King replied,
“I hope you are wrong as well, brother, and I am touched by your concern, but even if you are correct, I have no fear, for even when I die, the Empire will go on as it has for centuries.”