Molehunt: The Hunt for the Soviet Spy Inside MI5

by Nigel West

The concept of the deep-cover agent with seemingly impeccable credentials was, according to West, almost unknown in England until the Burgess-MacLean-Philby defections rocked the British establishment, virtually paralyzing its counterintelligence apparatus, and leading to internal-security investigations of previously unthinkable suspects. In this densely packed, clarifying study, the author traces the course of the great "molehunt" that lasted several years and reached its apparent climax in the highly publicized suspicion that Sir Roger Hollis, director of the British Security Service from 1956 to '65, was a Soviet agent. He agrees with the prevailing view that, of Hollis and his deputy, Graham Mitchell, "one was certainly a traitor." In his detailed review of the evidence, West ( The Sigint Secrets ) all but proves that Hollis, though perhaps incompetent, was innocent of treason. Although less surehanded in his exploration of the evidence against Mitchell, he nevertheless exposes the remarkable series of setbacks that occurred under Mitchell's tenure as a deputy-director of M15 and his attempts to gloss over them. Photos.


Nigel West is the pseudonym of Rupert Alason, a Tory Member of Parliament.

Genres: Espionage, Nonfiction, History

Hardcover

First published March 12, 1987

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good companion book to read before/after Peter Wright's "Spycatcher" book. Covers the history of "Molehunt" searches for traitors within the ranks of the Security Service, mainly in the post-war era. The topic is addressed with the characteristic West thoroughness, so much so in fact, that it's sometimes necessary to reread a paragraph or two in order to get one's facts/understanding straight. This is also sometimes necessary due to (for me at least) West's occasionally "odd" sentence structure. Nevertheless an interesting and engaging read for espionage aficionados and students of history.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blimey! Having followed spies and spying since my Treasury days this is the first time I have realised that there were so many alleged spies knocking about the Security Service departments. 'Reds Under the Bed' was a phrase when I worked in Whitehall, well it would seem from Nigel West's Molehunt' that they were more than just under the bed - they were everywhere. And what's more it seemed as if the Security Services were not sure who many of them were. It all reminded me of the training course run by the Security Service I attended many years ago when (much younger and not quite so aware) I was agog with some of the stories that were told to give examples of spying activities. Not only agog but worried as well for after each day (a five-day course) I used to return to my office in the Treasury by circuitous routes because the course was so intense that I imagined that foreign agents might be following me. Probably ridiculous but that was the message that the tutors put over to us!

Having said that let me get down to this book which is very intense and begins with some background to the Burgess and Maclean affair of the early 1950s as that seems to have been when the issue of spies and spying really caught on.And that was when there was suspicion of other agents who had been passing on information to the two fleeing spies so that they could make their getaway safely and opportunely. So that is why a molehunt was going on and this is declared as 'The Full Story ...'. I am not too sure that is strictly correct as the adjective in that statement is far from obvious when reading the text. And, at times there does seem, on occasion, to even be some doubt in the author's mind, and certainly in this reader's mind, whether or not it is indeed the 'Full' story as there seems to still be doubt as to whether there is more to the story than has come out. And when the final chapter is entitled 'Conclusive Proof', the superb and investigative text still leaves the question open as to whether or not there is anything 'conclusive' about the final outcome.

At least two high-ranking officers of the Security Service were under suspicion and there was nothing conclusive as to whether either of them was innocent or guilty of treachery. There was evidence either way and nothing absolutely definitive comes out in the end. Yes, a reasonable argument can be put forward for either of those officers, one way or another being involved in underhand work prejudicial to the nation. But nothing concrete and the number of references to the mendacious behaviour of some of the participants is often questioned. Indeed one of the appendices is the White Paper that was issued after the Burgess and Maclean defection. It is reprinted and the author's notes that accompany it even use the world 'lies' about some of the statements therein.

It is a most readable and thought-provoking book but what is true or false is sometimes unclear, especially from some of the defectors who are reporting back after they have switched sides. And that switching sides is more active than one imagines for at times there are statements about the Security Service/MI5/MI6 investigating 'up to 200 suspects'. Good grief they must very definitely have been 'under the beds'!

The book is very definitely well worth a read but it is up to the reader to make up his/her mind as to what to think about the whole situation. I realise that more has become available since this book was written (1987) and there is speculation about what else could come out within its pages because Peter Wright plays a large part in the later stages of the investigation. Wright's book 'Spycatcher' and elements of the trial that was created about its publication does come into the story with the implication that there may well be more to learn.