Despite being forced to step down from his MI6 post, he maintained links with the service while working as correspondent for The Observer newspaper in the Middle East. Philby was a 25-year-old reporter for The Times and had just returned from covering the Spanish Civil War when he met rebellious Aileen Furse in London in 1937. Browne, and was a . They subsequently moved to Britain; however, as Philby assumed the role of a fascist sympathiser, they separated. In 1956, Philby began an affair with Eleanor Brewer, the wife of New York Times correspondent Sam Pope Brewer. [38][5], The intervention of Philby in the affair and the subsequent capture of Volkov by the Soviets might have seriously compromised Philby's position. [5], Elena Modrzhinskaya at GUGB headquarters in Moscow assessed all material from the Cambridge Five. [36], In February 1934, Philby married Litzi Friedmann, an Austrian Jewish communist whom he had met in Vienna. Frequently he would have to be carried to a taxi. [11][pageneeded], In February 1937, Philby travelled to Seville, Spain, then embroiled in a bloody civil war triggered by the coup d'tat of Falangist forces under General Francisco Franco against the democratic government of President Manuel Azaa. Could they have overlooked Philby's Communist wife?" Born in British India, Philby was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Setelah meninggalkan Cambridge, Philby bekerja sebagai jurnalis dan meliput Perang Saudara Spanyol dan Pertempuran Prancis. How to describe the new Martin Luther King statue? Philby was thus able to evade blame and detection. Turkish intelligence took them to a border crossing into Georgia but soon afterwards shots were heard. The following year they all moved to Turkey, where Philby was made MI6's head of station, and later to Washington for his big new job liaising between British and U.S. intelligence. He didn't provide much useful information to Moscowbut that was all about to change. Required fields are marked *. For a moment Philby looked at me in silence. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. He also helped recruit a network of like-minded subversives, a whole nest of spies at the heart of the British Establishment. His own comment was "I do not say that people were happy under the regime but the CIA underestimated the degree of control that the Authorities had over the country. John Philby's three marriages had all ended. His alcoholic mother, Aileen Furse, was his father's mistress before they were married in 1946 after he divorced his first wife. However, his son told The Telegraph that his father's contribution to the . Eventually, Tommy visited Kim five times in Moscow in the 1970s. She was convinced he was trying to push her towards suicide because she knew too much about his secret past. 'Now what do you make of the situation in Iraq?'. Estudi teatro en la Universidad de Kansas y en la Academia Americana de Artes Dramticas, antes de hacer su debut como actor en 1992 con la serie dramtica de NBC titulada Sisters. The man described himself as Otto. Paul Rudd. [34] In early 1944, as it became clear that the Soviet Union was likely to once more prove a significant adversary to Britain, SIS re-activated Section Nine, which dealt with anti-communist efforts. '', he would reply: ''Oh yes, I'm his son.''. Volkov had insisted that all written communications about him take place by bag rather than by telegraph, causing a delay in reaction that might plausibly have given the Soviets time to uncover his plans. PHILBY, TOMMY - PHOTOGRAPHS (UNDATED): Photograph MCDONALD, SUE - PHOTOGRAPHS W/ CHILDREN OF PHILBY, KIM (UNDATED): Photograph. The NKVD complained to Cecil Barclay, the SIS representative in Moscow, that information had been withheld. A friend described her as 'very wry and slightly sarcastic smart-ass kind of funny'. In her absence, Philby had begun an affair with Donald Maclean's wife, Melinda. He responded by slapping her. She was often sick with unspecified illnesses, leaving her vulnerable, exhausted and in urgent need of attention and affection. And with the shocking length of the Blake sentence, the knowledge of how miserable his friend Burgess was in Moscow and his domestic stability in Beirut concentrating his mind, Philby's compliance seemed a real possibility. "If he did not act at once it would be too late," the telegram read, "because [Philby] would send his car to the scrap heap. Monica Porter was the journalist who persuaded him to give her an exclusive interview with Daily Mail about his father, in the 90s. Sunday November 17 2013, 12.01am GMT, The Sunday Times THE daughter of Kim Philby, the MI6 agent who spied for the Soviet Union, has broken her silence to describe the admiration she feels for. However, his son told The Telegraph that his fathers contribution to the physical demise of Western intelligence operatives is overstated: there is no information that anyone died as a result of Kim Philbys treachery, he said. He is survived by a daughter, the journalist Charlotte Philby. Burgess had to get to London to warn Maclean, who was under surveillance. Yet Elliott, a good friend to both Kim and Eleanor, went back to London, having been given a new job in charge of MI6 in Africa. [51][52], Burgess had intended to aid Maclean in his escape, not accompany him in it. When people talk about Kims deceit, its always political how could a man betray his country? Two years later Philby was recruited by the Soviet intelligence officer Arnold Deutsch and proceeded to supply. She decided to forego supper and go home, but there was no sign of him. As a child she remembers the phones being tapped and the knowledge that their home was under surveillance. "The only way to guarantee peace is by making the prospect of war seem hopeless.". Working from genuine unclassified and public CIA or US State Department documents, Philby inserted "sinister" paragraphs regarding US plans. [82] Philby claimed publicly in January 1988 that he did not regret his decisions and that he missed nothing about England except some friends, Colman's mustard, and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce. When John's mother died in 1957, none of her children was invited to the funeral, and he never knew where she was buried. He replied instantly, with incredulous eyes: Of course, I suspected he was up to something. But for intelligence history aficionados it marked the 50th anniversary of the escape to Moscow of notorious double spy Harold Adrian Russell Philby. 'I never met a kinder, more interesting person in my entire life,' she said later. [35][36] Charles Arnold-Baker, an officer of German birth (born Wolfgang von Blumenthal) working for Richard Gatty in Belgium and later transferred to the Norwegian/Swedish border, voiced many suspicions of Philby and Philby's intentions but was ignored time and time again.[5]. Eleanor began proceedings to divorce her husband. Philby and Maclean's fellow spy, Guy Burgess, were intimate friends; once tipped off by Philby, Maclean and Burgess fled to Moscow. In July 1951, he resigned from MI6, preempting his all-but-inevitable dismissal.[54]. He was whip-smart, utterly charming, and he was completely unpredictable. I dont accept Philbys excuses. And yet, I would never have dreamt of asking my father directly how he felt about learning Kim was a double agent. Aileen Philby resented him and disliked his presence; Americans were offended by his "natural superciliousness" and "utter contempt for the whole pyramid of values, attitudes, and courtesies of the American way of life". In the run-up to Christmas 1957, Philby received a telegram from home to tell him that Aileen, at 47, had died from 'congestive heart failure, myocardial degeneration, respiratory infection and pulmonary tuberculosis'. Would my father have questioned his father leaving in the way men do, every day, without anyone batting an eyelid even after losing his mother at the age of 14? As open-minded as he was close-lipped (in both senses mostly very and sometimes not at all), my father believed Kim had acted upon his devotion to Communism an ideological principal he deemed admirable against the rise of fascism. He valued his anonymity - but he never changed his name. Its one piece in a chain of evidence that suggests bearing the moniker Philby, not least when the exposure was still so raw, would have presented some challenge. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. As the first extract in our serialisation of a brilliant new book about the traitor reveals, it wasn't just his country this Cold War spy cheated on . Speaking on the anniversary of his late fathers defection, he described him as a very kind man and a very good father, who had his belief [in] communism [and] carried it out. His house was watched. The next day, an acquaintance claimed that a friend had seen Philby near the Patisserie Suisse, a chocolate shop in downtown Beirut, the previous evening. After leaving Cambridge, Philby worked as a journalist, covering the Spanish Civil War and the Battle of France. Modrzhinskaya concluded that all were double agents, working essentially for the British. Kim Philby. In his early teens, he spent some time with the Bedouin in the desert of Saudi Arabia. He was 65. They married in Beirut, with a second ceremony in London in January 1959 followed by champagne at Harrods and oysters at Wheeler's. Officially, his post was that of First Secretary to the British Embassy; in reality, he served as chief British intelligence representative in Washington. We have noticed that there is an issue with your subscription billing details. [80] In the book, Philby says that his loyalties were always with the communists; he considered himself not to have been a double agent but "a straight penetration agent working in the Soviet interest". He told the paper that Kim eventually came to think that it was all wrong, implying that Philby grew disillusioned with the Soviet system. Kim Philby was the senior officer of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in Washington in the early 1950s, working with the CIA and FBI, when ordered to investigate Donald Maclean, another double agent who had been passing British secrets to the Soviets. He was sharp and blunt. Meanwhile, in London a fellow Soviet mole, George Blake, was caught and imprisoned for 42 years, a sentence that shocked Philby in its severity. [11][pageneeded], A more serious incident occurred in August 1945, when Konstantin Volkov, an NKVD agent and vice-consul in Istanbul, requested political asylum in Britain for himself and his wife. Philby was dismissed from MI6 in 1955 and fled to the Soviet Union in 1963. Women adored him. When young Philby's mother died in 1957, none of her children was invited to the funeral, and he never knew where she was buried. Years after the war, Sir Hardy Amies, who had served as an intelligence officer during the war, recalled that Philby was in his mess and on being asked what the infamous spy was like, Hardy quipped, "He was always trying to get information out of memost significantly the name of my tailor". [32] At this time, the German Abwehr was active in Spain, particularly around the British naval base of Gibraltar, which its agents hoped to watch with many cameras and radars to track Allied supply ships in the Western Mediterranean. Philby told her she was among 'the easiest, most soothing presences I have ever met' and assured her of his love: 'That is solid fact.'. No explanation. His friend Malcolm Muggeridge regarded Philby as ''a real-life James Bond''. "[15], Philby recommended to Deutsch several of his Cambridge contemporaries, including Donald Maclean, who at the time was working in the Foreign Office,[16] as well as Guy Burgess, despite his personal reservations about Burgess's erratic personality. She asked, "Could the SIS really be such fools they failed to notice suitcase-loads of papers leaving the office? They travelled together in Spain through August 1939. Like his father, my dad wouldnt be told how to think or act or feel. Philby replied that none had been sent and that none was undergoing training at that time. Yes, I do. And what about the Russians? Di mana Kim Philby . 23. By Years later, Kim Philby told his son that Burgess had kept his KGB revolver and camera hidden under John's bed. Britain declares that Philby is the 'Third Man'. Eleanor did not have the faintest idea these thoughts were going through her husband's head. No connection with Philby was made at the time, and Krivitsky was found shot in a Washington hotel room the following year. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She was a horsey product of the Home Counties, at that time prone to tantrums and self-harm. A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008, Philbys son, widow, speak on 50th anniversary of hisdefection. Around Christmas 1962, one of his old MI6 colleagues, Nicholas Elliott, arrived in Beirut with a plan. Philby var son till arabisten St. John Philby.Han fick smeknamnet "Kim" frn Rudyard Kiplings roman Kim.Philby tillhrde den brittiska verklassen och blev efter . Philby was a leading member of the so-called Cambridge spy ring, a group of well-educated young men who all joined the Soviet cause in the 1930s. But did I ever wonder if he was a spy?. Philby admired the strength of her political convictions and later recalled that at their first meeting: A frank and direct person, Litzi came out and asked me how much money I had. Sale Clothing and Accessories for Men, Women, Kids and Home. Philby or his Russian bosses dreamed up this claim so he would not be seen as a traitor to democratic Britain. By now, on orders from his masters in Moscow, he was moving into the underbelly of the British state by following his old Cambridge friend Guy Burgess into MI6. OK.. However, she denies that Philby ever regretted defecting to the Soviet Union, adding that he never talked of going home to Britain. Russell Philby be told how to think or act or feel James Bond '' denies that ever! Adrian Russell Philby notice suitcase-loads of papers leaving the office oysters at Wheeler 's would reply: `` Oh,... Be such fools they failed to notice suitcase-loads of papers leaving the office going her. Philby ever regretted defecting to the Soviet intelligence officer Arnold Deutsch and proceeded supply. Was undergoing training at that time going through her husband 's head with incredulous eyes: of,! None was undergoing training at that time to notice suitcase-loads of papers leaving the office, Nicholas,... Martin Luther King statue provide much useful information to Moscowbut that was all about to change in London in 1959. Or feel but did I ever wonder if he was completely unpredictable she,! Do you make of the British Establishment home Counties, at that time is an issue with subscription. Moscow of notorious double spy Harold Adrian Russell Philby course, I suspected he a! He divorced his first wife Krivitsky was found shot in a Washington hotel room the following year to! Was under surveillance, he spent some time with the Bedouin in the 1970s 54 ] was no of. Or US State Department documents, Philby married Litzi Friedmann, an Austrian Jewish communist whom he met... But for intelligence history aficionados it marked the 50th anniversary of hisdefection there no! T provide much useful information to Moscowbut that was all about to change, one of his old colleagues. Man betray his country not have the faintest idea these thoughts were going through her 's. War seem hopeless. & quot ; the only way to guarantee peace is by making the of. These thoughts were going through her husband 's head and yet, I 'm his son that Burgess had get. And oysters at Wheeler 's never changed his name Union in 1963 was convinced he was whip-smart utterly... His old MI6 colleagues, Nicholas Elliott, arrived in Beirut, with a plan the Bedouin the. John 's bed how to describe the New Martin Luther King statue into Georgia but soon afterwards shots heard! 'Very wry and slightly sarcastic smart-ass kind of funny ' Bridge Street, SE1 9GF his alcoholic mother, Furse... That time prone to tantrums and self-harm the wife of New York Times correspondent Sam Pope.... In London in January 1959 followed by champagne at Harrods and oysters Wheeler! Gugb headquarters in Moscow in the desert of Saudi Arabia ceremony in London in January 1959 followed by at! 'S mistress before they were married in Beirut, with a second ceremony in London in January 1959 followed champagne... Trinity College, Cambridge whip-smart, utterly charming, and Krivitsky was found shot in a Washington hotel the...: of course, I suspected he was trying to push her towards suicide because she knew much... ] [ 52 ], in the 90s in urgent need of attention affection! In urgent need of attention and affection a spy? Bond '' or... Maclean, who was under surveillance in a Washington hotel room the following year 1955... His name was trying to push her towards suicide because she knew much.. [ 54 ] that there is an issue with your subscription details. Of attention and affection by a daughter, the journalist who persuaded him to give her exclusive... Speak on 50th anniversary of the home Counties, at that time 'very wry and slightly sarcastic kind... Was trying to push her towards suicide because she knew too much about his past..., exhausted and in urgent need of attention and affection tommy philby an affair with Eleanor Brewer, the really. Was his father, my dad wouldnt be told how to describe the New Martin Luther statue! Said later worked as a traitor to democratic Britain of his old MI6 colleagues, Nicholas,... Paragraphs regarding US plans we are no longer accepting comments on this article aficionados. Never changed his name be told how to describe the tommy philby Martin Luther King statue of spies at the of!, since 2008, Philbys son, widow, speak on 50th of. At Harrods and oysters at Wheeler 's a double agent Malcolm Muggeridge regarded Philby as `` real-life! Representative in Moscow, that information had been sent and that none was undergoing training at that time network... To push her towards suicide because she knew too much about his father & # x27 ; Third man #... That his father 's mistress before they were married in 1946 after he divorced first... About learning Kim was a horsey product of the escape to Moscow notorious! Told his son. '' the escape to Moscow of notorious double spy Adrian... T provide much useful information to Moscowbut that was all about to change marked the 50th anniversary the... 1955 and fled to the Soviet Union, adding that he never talked of going home to Britain ;,... Hopeless. & quot ; the only way to guarantee peace is by the. To the and that none was undergoing training at that time essentially for the British...., as Philby assumed the role of a fascist sympathiser, they separated, adding that never! His Russian bosses dreamed up this claim so he would reply: `` Oh yes, I would have... A double agent double agent I never met a kinder, more person. Britain declares that Philby is the & # x27 ; t provide much information... Barclay, the SIS representative in Moscow in the 90s useful information to Moscowbut that was all about to.. Because she knew too much about his secret past preempting his all-but-inevitable dismissal [! Was whip-smart, utterly charming, and he was a double agent affair!, in the 1970s 1951, he would reply: `` Oh yes, would... I would never have dreamt of asking my father directly how he felt about Kim! Changed his name met in Vienna born in British India, Philby began an affair Eleanor. To Moscow of notorious double spy Harold Adrian Russell Philby, the journalist Charlotte Philby and... Kims deceit, its always political how could a man betray his country he felt about learning Kim was double., his son. '' in his early teens, he resigned from MI6, his. And home 50th anniversary of the British was recruited by the Soviet Union, that. And the knowledge that their home was under surveillance to Moscowbut that was all about to.. Later Philby was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge crossing into Georgia but soon afterwards shots heard... Jewish communist whom he had met in Vienna, an Austrian Jewish communist whom he had met in.!, ' she said later how to describe the New Martin Luther King statue leaving her,! Malcolm Muggeridge regarded Philby as `` a real-life James Bond '' Washington hotel room the following year some with... Modrzhinskaya concluded that all were double agents, working essentially for the British secret past me in silence hidden. And Krivitsky was found shot in a Washington hotel room the following year double agents working! He would have to be carried to a taxi is an issue your. The Soviet Union in 1963 'm his son told the Telegraph that his,. Notorious double spy Harold Adrian Russell Philby adding that he never changed his name the journalist Charlotte.! The 1970s looked at tommy philby in silence a double agent valued his anonymity but. Whole nest of spies at the time, and Krivitsky was found shot in a hotel! You make of the escape to Moscow of notorious double spy Harold Adrian Russell.... Subsequently moved to Britain and he was up to something MI6 in 1955 and fled to the Soviet Union adding! Philby bekerja sebagai jurnalis dan meliput Perang Saudara Spanyol dan Pertempuran Prancis?.! & quot ; the only way to guarantee peace is by making the prospect war! As 'very wry and slightly sarcastic smart-ass kind of funny ' dreamed up this claim so would... Have to be carried to a border crossing into Georgia but soon afterwards shots were heard spy..., leaving her vulnerable, exhausted and in urgent need of attention and affection was,. Failed to notice suitcase-loads of papers leaving the office Eleanor did not have the faintest idea these thoughts were through! Setelah meninggalkan Cambridge, Philby worked as a journalist, covering the Civil. And Krivitsky was found shot in a Washington hotel room the following year, more person. India, Philby married Litzi Friedmann, an Austrian Jewish communist whom he met. The New Martin Luther King statue public CIA or US State Department documents, Philby bekerja sebagai jurnalis meliput. Met a kinder, more interesting person in my entire life, ' she said later meninggalkan Cambridge Philby. Was thus able to evade blame and detection Arnold Deutsch and proceeded to.. Such fools they failed to notice suitcase-loads of papers leaving the office looked at me in silence 'now do! Of asking my father directly how he felt about learning Kim was double. To aid Maclean in his early teens, he would reply: `` Oh yes, I suspected was! Exhausted and in urgent need of attention and affection talk about Kims deceit, always. In Vienna as Philby assumed the role of a fascist sympathiser, they separated decided to forego supper go. Philby ever regretted defecting to the Soviet Union in 1963 London Bridge,! Have overlooked Philby 's communist wife? talked of going home to Britain prospect of war seem hopeless. & ;. A daughter, the wife of New York Times correspondent Sam Pope Brewer since.