2RHPZ
03-01-2005, 05:18 AM
Never, ever go south of river, KGB spies told
Always carry smart luggage, ensure your AA membership is up to date and never, ever travel south of the river. Such was the advice given to Soviet spies newly arrived in the London of the 1930s.
The information was contained in a guide prepared for Russian agents which fell into German hands during the Second World War and was later passed to MI5. It paints a curious and alien picture of the capital - except for the "never south of the river" injunction, observed by black cab drivers to this day.
The NKVD, which later evolved into the KGB, was paranoid about the possibility of its agents colliding with local officialdom and advised against any meetings in the area of Whitehall, where police were considered to be far superior to their counterparts in the provinces.
Suggested rendezvous points included the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, Wimbledon Post Office, the bandstand in Hendon Public Park, Chelsea Town Hall and the ABC Cafe opposite Ealing Broadway Tube station.
South London, however, was to be avoided at all costs, the guide noting: "South London is the most English area in London. Except on the way to Croydon Aerodrome, no foreigner crosses the river."
The area's reputation in the eyes of police was quite good but a foreigner would be regarded suspiciously since there were so few foreigners.
Spies were warned that the British cafe was a strange beast, advising: "It should be clearly understood they are quite different and less suitable than Continental ones. Sundays should be avoided."
However, the Majestic cafe in Kensington High Street was recommended as a meeting place, while Harrods and Selfridges were good places to shake off a tail.
Agents were warned that leading hotels - the Carlton, Pall Mall, Dorchester, Grosvenor, Ritz and Savoy - were frequented only by people with the necessary "social standing", and to avoid embarrassment, the visiting spy must be appropriately equipped with smart and sufficient luggage.
Link (http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/01/nna301.xml)
Always carry smart luggage, ensure your AA membership is up to date and never, ever travel south of the river. Such was the advice given to Soviet spies newly arrived in the London of the 1930s.
The information was contained in a guide prepared for Russian agents which fell into German hands during the Second World War and was later passed to MI5. It paints a curious and alien picture of the capital - except for the "never south of the river" injunction, observed by black cab drivers to this day.
The NKVD, which later evolved into the KGB, was paranoid about the possibility of its agents colliding with local officialdom and advised against any meetings in the area of Whitehall, where police were considered to be far superior to their counterparts in the provinces.
Suggested rendezvous points included the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, Wimbledon Post Office, the bandstand in Hendon Public Park, Chelsea Town Hall and the ABC Cafe opposite Ealing Broadway Tube station.
South London, however, was to be avoided at all costs, the guide noting: "South London is the most English area in London. Except on the way to Croydon Aerodrome, no foreigner crosses the river."
The area's reputation in the eyes of police was quite good but a foreigner would be regarded suspiciously since there were so few foreigners.
Spies were warned that the British cafe was a strange beast, advising: "It should be clearly understood they are quite different and less suitable than Continental ones. Sundays should be avoided."
However, the Majestic cafe in Kensington High Street was recommended as a meeting place, while Harrods and Selfridges were good places to shake off a tail.
Agents were warned that leading hotels - the Carlton, Pall Mall, Dorchester, Grosvenor, Ritz and Savoy - were frequented only by people with the necessary "social standing", and to avoid embarrassment, the visiting spy must be appropriately equipped with smart and sufficient luggage.
Link (http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/01/nna301.xml)