Anglo-French intelligence liaison, 1909-1940

Abstract

This thesis addresses Anglo-French intelligence liaison between 1909 and 1940. It seeks to illuminate relations between Britain and France in this turbulent period and to consider the processes and outcomes of intelligence cooperation between sovereign states as a phenomenon. A theoretical framework for intelligence liaison is used to examine examples derived from the Anglo-French case over this thirty-year period, How intelligence liaison functioned and what benefits and drawbacks participation in liaison brought to the British and French are highlighted, During the three decades addressed in this thesis, Anglo-French relations were ambiguous: allied twice in the period, the two countries were also rivals. The contradictory nature of Anglo-French relations provided the context for intelligence cooperation, which functioned during peacetime mostly at a micro-level through professional individuals. During war, liaison was heightened, and formal mechanisms for cooperation were employed. Liaison occurred over political, operational and technical intelligence. Reasons for the discernible gap between peacetime liaison and wartime cooperation are explored. Important themes examined include the role of the individual and their personality in intelligence cooperation and the role of national stereotyping in intelligence liaison.

Date of Award	Dec 2014
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Sponsors	Northern Ireland Department for the Economy
Supervisor	Keith Jeffery (Supervisor)