LONDON – An unusual piece of espionage history, a 110-year-old lemon, takes center stage in a new London exhibition. The exhibition draws from the declassified files of MI5, Britain's domestic intelligence agency.
The showcase at Britain's National Archives includes items such as compact spy cameras, microdots concealed in a talcum powder tin, and a briefcase left behind by Soviet spy Guy Burgess. Together, they illustrate the evolution of an agency gradually embracing transparency.
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum noted the agency’s real work often diverges from fictional portrayals. He referenced characters like George Smiley and Jackson Lamb from the novels of John le Carré and Mick Herron.
Many stories unveiled in the exhibition possess the intrigue of a classic thriller.
The aged lemon played a crucial role in the conviction of Karl Muller, a German spy operating in Britain during World War I. Police discovered the lemon in his residence, and evidence revealed its juice was used for invisible-ink messages detailing British troop movements.
Muller faced execution by firing squad at the Tower of London in 1915.
In a bizarre twist reminiscent of fiction, MI5 continued corresponding with Muller's German handlers, requesting additional funds.
Exhibition curator Mark Dunton explained, "The Germans sent more funds, and MI5 bought a car, which they named 'The Muller.' However, they were later reprimanded by the Treasury for the unauthorized expenditure.”
The exhibition features declassified records from the National Archives and artifacts from the secret museum within MI5's London headquarters, Thames House.
The exhibition traces the agency's transformation since its establishment in 1909 as the Secret Service Bureau, initially staffed by just two officers.
Among the exhibits are records of WWII successes, where captured Nazi agents were used to mislead Germany, particularly regarding the Allied invasion in 1944.
Failures highlighted include the "Cambridge Spies" scandal, where members leaked secrets to the Soviet Union. Declassified documents include the 1963 confession of Kim Philby, who fled to Moscow after years of denial.
The exhibition also addresses evolving attitudes within MI5, particularly towards women. A 1945 report by Maxwell Knight discusses women's potential as agents, countering claims of indiscretion by noting that men were more often the source of "loose talk."
The exhibition acknowledges past errors, such as MI5's slow response to fascism in the 1930s and excessive focus on the Communist Party of Great Britain. Ironically, MI5 possessed a key to the party's offices, which is also on display.
Limited items from recent decades reflect MI5's shift towards counterterrorism. A mortar shell fired by the Irish Republican Army at 10 Downing St. during a 1991 Cabinet meeting is among the displays.
Since 1997, MI5 has gradually released records to the public archives, typically after 50 years. The agency still maintains control over what remains classified.
Author Ben Macintyre, noted the exhibition signifies a significant shift in official secrecy, marking a time when knowing of MI5’s existence was prohibited.
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"MI5: Official Secrets" is open to the public from Saturday until Sept. 28 at the National Archives in London, with free admission.