Key Findings

Abstract

The relationship between the British and American secret services during the econd World War was characterized by four distinct themes. For the purpose of analysis, they shall be called indirect mutual dependence, direct mutual dependence, restricted independence, and unrestricted independence. These themes appeared at various times and to varying degrees in different countries or regions, yet had basic characteristics that surfaced in the behavior of both sides of the bilateral equation. The transatlantic ‘partners,’ who finished the war more as rivals in much of the world, were driven both by national imperatives and narrow organizational interests. They alternated between selflessness and selfishness, trust and mistrust, aggressiveness and passivity, ambition and restraint, strategic vision and tactical preoccupation, possessiveness and independence. In some ways, the relationship can be said to have progressed from the first theme through the next three, although there were many exceptions to this pattern, especially regarding the two forms of independence; in the 1942–4 period, especially, the relationship was characterized at times by direct mutual dependence, restricted or unrestricted independence, depending upon the area of operations in question. The themes discussed herein are used to interpret in a broad fashion the development of the Anglo-US secret service relationship during 1940–5 and are not intended to judge the effectiveness of various activities with regard to the war effort. They are general parameters within which the relationship may be studied further.