Kim Philby

Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby also H. A. R. Philby (January 1, 1912 – May 11, 1988) was a high ranking member of British intelligence who led a lifelong career as a spy for the Soviet Union.

Washington

In January 1949, the British Government was informed that VENONA intercepts showed atomic secrets were passed to the Soviet Union from the British Embassy in Washington in 1944 and 1945 by an agent code-named HOMER, later identified as Second Secretary Donald MacLean.

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In October 1949 Philby arrived in Washington as British intelligence liaison to the newly created U.S. intelligence agencies under the National Security Act of 1947. Philby received VENONA material which the U.S. was sharing with the U.K. In defiance of all known intelligence principles, he shared a house in Washington, at 4100 Nebraska Avenue, N.W, with his personal friend from the Cambridge days, fellow British diplomat, intelligence officer and Soviet penetration agent, Guy Burgess.

Related Topics:
National Security Act of 1947 - VENONA - Guy Burgess

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When MacLean was identified in April 1951, surveillance commenced to obtain evidence independent of VENONA, as the U.S. and U.K. did not want to reveal the existence of the Venona. MacLean defected to Moscow with Guy Burgess a month later in May 1951. Philby came under instant suspicion as the third man who tipped them off.

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That year, Philby resigned under a cloud and was denied his pension until an internal investigation failed to come up with definitive proof of his treachery. A few years later, against all expectations, he was 'cleared' by the Prime Minister in an ill-timed statement made in the well of the House of Commons.

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