Soviet intelligence agents and suspected agents: Lady Howard of Effingham

The story of Lady Howard is one of interest as a case of a mysterious foreigner making a great impact in British society and diplomatic circles, and contains much of human interest.

Polish refugee Malwina Gertler arrived in Britain in 1935, and first came to the notice of the intelligence services for her failure to register her alien status properly. She was soon however moving into exalted circles. By 1938, SIS was reporting her as the mistress of a well known gun runner into Spain, Edward Weisblatt. As Weisblatt was suspected of espionage, Gertler too became suspect by association.

In 1938 came her marriage to Lord Howard of Effingham. A source described in November of that year (KV 2/2387, covering 1936-1942) how it was "a purely business arrangement and it is stated that there was actually a cash transaction." Lord Howard was short of money and Gertler needed British nationality. Weisblatt no doubt provided the funds. The file goes on to show how Weisblatt was able to use Lady Howard's connections and nationality to help him win arms supply business in Egypt. Despite her marriage, it is clear that Lady Howard remained Wiesblatt's mistress.

There is a photograph of Lady Howard at serial 31B. At serial 56A is an account of Lady Howard by Lord Cottenham, which gives an indication of her character: "a not unattractive gipsy gamin type; highly sexed, I should say...an accent more foreign than it need be." Wiesblatt and Lady Howard were separated by the outbreak of war, as she was in Britain and he in France, and neither had the necessary exit documentation to travel.

Much of the remainder of the file records her efforts to arrange a meeting, and there is a good case summary at serial 165A. Lady Howard was also in social contact with the Edens in 1940, and steps had to be taken to warn them of her character (details at serial 90A - Eden was at this time out of office, but was soon to be appointed as secretary of state for war by Churchill). There is a list of Lady Howard's contacts at serial 184A.

Lady Howard was eventually interned in Holloway Prison in February 1941, and the file includes interviews with her by Maxwell Knight (serial 253). The Advisory Committee on internment recommended her release, much to the dismay of the Security Service, in May of that year (serial 300A). KV 2/2388 (1942-1954) records how the Howards were divorced October 1945 - and follows Lady Howard's progress as she travelled the world, still enchanting her way through diplomatic circles, until eventually reaching Australia.