Reuters was 'off-limits' to MI6

I'm Intrigued by The Forsyth confession, especially the implication that Frederick Forsyth’s SIS activities continued while he worked at Reuters.

Prior to my joining Reuters in late 1983, I had had an association with the UK Secret Intelligence Service (also known as MI6) over several years, and this included a two-year contract as a full-time “head agent” working against the Soviets and their friends. Towards the end of the contract, an SIS director told me it had been decided not to offer me a full-time career as an intelligence officer as I was likely “to chafe against the bureaucratic restrictions of a peacetime service”, i.e. I tended to do what I thought needed to be done before seeking authorisation. I was asked if I would like to continue on a renewed contract. I said I planned to join Reuters and was told in no uncertain terms that Reuters was off-limits and they could have nothing further to do with me in the event that I were to join the company. I went ahead.

It was only years later when SIS renewed contact (in 1988-89) and we had the occasional chat or consultation. It eventually petered out when I stopped taking their calls in the 1990s because my contact was an awful bore and we weren't getting up to any mischief. The BBC and FT were also “off limits” to SIS.

I don't question Forsyth's honesty, but I am curious about the SIS “rule” that seems to have been broken from time to time in instances of perceived need.

I was asked for help in Desert Storm (I couldn't do much, I was with 7th Armoured Brigade for much of the time) and I was given a couple of useful and unusual insights during the Croatian war by a UK diplomat who did not reveal himself to be SIS, but his youth, smarts and the nature of the material pointed to SIS.

During the Cold War, hundreds if not thousands of ordinary people helped SIS, often without pay, reward or recognition, in the belief that were “doing their bit” against a dangerous potential foe. Being a very small organisation with perhaps 3,000 full-time staff, SIS was greatly strengthened by this voluntary element. These might have included someone clearing milk bottles from the doorstep of a safe house, a dog walker clearing a dead letter box, a banker opening an overseas account, a holiday-maker tying a towel to a balcony rail, a friendly airport worker helping someone switch planes.

It seems to me highly unlikely that SIS would enjoy such support today. ■