Re: History of MI6

On Wed, 7 Dec 2005, Mark Baldwin wrote :
----------------------------------------
> Prof Keith Jeffery of Queen's Univ, Belfast, has been commissioned to 
> write an official history of MI6, with access to MI6 archives.
> It will cover the first 40 years (i.e 1909 to 1949), and will be 
> published in 2010 to mark centenary of MI6's foundation.
> See 'Belfast Telegraph' 7 Dec for further details.


Further to Mark's note, there is also this article in The Times :


The Times
December 07, 2005

MI6 secrets come in from the cold
---------------------------------
By Michael Evans, Defence Editor

THE secrets of MI6’s archives, where some of the great mysteries of 
Britain's intelligence operations are buried, are to be brought into the 
open.

Keith Jeffery, Professor of Modern History at Queen's University 
Belfast, was appointed yesterday to write the history of the service from 
its founding in 1909 to 1949.../snip/


...However, Professor Jeffery, 53, will be allowed total access and has 
been told he can write "a warts and all" history; although MI6 and the 
Cabinet Office will retain editorial control to ensure that material still 
relevant is blue-pencilled. Professor Jeffery told The Times: "It was an 
offer I couldn't refuse. It's such an exciting and challenging 
opportunity."

MI6's decision to open its archives comes after the appointment by MI5 
last year of Christopher Andrew, Professor of Modern and Contemporary 
History at Cambridge University, to write a history in time for the 
centenary of the service in 2009.

The service has had to recognise that Professor Jeffery would not have 
enough time to meet the same deadline, so publication has been set for the 
autumn of 2010..../snip/


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1910621,00.html