State Secrets: The Kent-Wolkoff Affair

Following the release of MI5 files into the British National Archives, the author re-examines a notorious case of espionage at the American Embassy in London during 1939-1940 when 'Top Secret' correspondence between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill was leaked. Their correspondence was potentially damaging to both men because Churchill had not stepped up as Prime Minister and the United States had not then entered the war. Moreover, Roosevelt was coming up for re-election in November 1940 with the pledge that 'I have said this before but I shall say it again and again and again; your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars'. Tyler Kent, a code and cipher clerk at the Embassy, would admit collecting Embassy documents that he considered 'interesting' and sharing these with Anna Wolkoff, a Russian-born dress designer, and Captain Archibald Ramsay, the Conservative MP for Peebles. Joseph P. Kennedy, the American Ambassador, waived Kent's diplomatic immunity and all three were arrested. Kent and Wolkoff were tried in secret in October 1940 when they were handed down sentences of 7 and 10 years; and Ramsay was interned without trial until September 1944. Two Canadian journalists who sensed a good story were also interned. There have been many colourful cover stories published of Kent and Wolkoff's activities over the years but only now has it been possible to publish The Full Story, which includes compelling evidence of Roosevelt's warlike intent, a MI5 sting operation, perjury and the manipulation of Court documents.