Peter Ramsbotham

Peter Ramsbotham   (diplomat, spook, deep state functionary)
Born	1919-10-08 London, United Kingdom
Died	2010-04-09 (Age 90) New Alresford, Hampshire
Alma mater	Magdalen College, Oxford
Children	3
Spouse	Frances Marie Massie Blomfield
Member of	International Institute for Strategic Studies
British Diplomat present at many intelligence operations  Governor of Bermuda In office 1977 - 1980  British Ambassador to the United States In office 1974 - 1977 Preceded by Rowland Baring Succeeded by Peter Jay  British Ambassador to Iran In office 1971 - 1973  British High Commissioner to Cyprus In office 1969 - 1971

Peter Edward Ramsbotham, 3rd Viscount Soulbury was a British diplomat and intelligence operative.

Early life

Born in London, Ramsbotham was the younger son of Herwald Ramsbotham, later the 1st Viscount Soulbury. He was educated at Eton College and at Magdalen College, Oxford. At Oxford he contracted polio in 1938, which left him with a slightly shorter right leg.

World War II

He was already working for MI5 as a civilian when he joined the army on the outbreak of the Second World War. In April 1941, Ramsbotham was working in B3 Division of MI5 (Communications) with the task of studying the activities of foreign journalists in the UK. In July he was with B3A (Censorship) before moving to E3 (Alien Control – USA citizens in the UK and other territories). By 1943 he was with E2 Division dealing with nationals from the Baltic states, the Balkans and Central Europe. In June 1943, he left MI5 and was later commissioned into the Intelligence Corps on 9 June 1944.

As a fluent speaker in French, he continued to work with MI5 on the Continent as a member of 106 Special Counter Intelligence Unit (SCIU), running double agents and acting as a liaison officer to the counter-espionage section of the French Intelligence Service. He also reported to the '212' Committee', the Allied equivalent of MI5's 'XX Committee' ('Double Cross Committee').

At the close of hostilities, he was employed in the Political Division of the Control Commissions for both Germany and Austria and served also in Hamburg and Berlin. In recognition of his exemplary service during the war, he received a Mention in Despatches in August 1945 and was awarded a Croix de Guerre on 1 March 1949 (en bloc).

Diplomatic Service

In 1948, Ramsbotham joined the diplomatic service on the advice of his superior, Sir Christopher Steel. He failed the Foreign Office exam on his first attempt, due to poor mathematical skill, but passed six months later after some coaching. His first position was in the German Department of the Foreign Office in London.

He was posted to Berlin and was there during the 'blockade'. While there he wrote about the political situation and had a hand in drawing up the new German constitution.

He was involved in the Abadan oil crisis in 1953 and was part of the team that negotiated with the Iranian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadeq. Despite his junior position, Ramsbotham's role in the crisis marked him out as a skilful diplomat and "he has been credited with being the architect of the 'compromise' solution that ended it". - (The crisis ended when the MI5 and CIA toppled Mossadeq and installed a puppet.)

During the Suez crisis in 1956, he was head of Chancery in Britain's delegation to the UN, under Ambassador Sir Pierson Dixon.

Ramsbotham was integral to the implementation of the Foreign Office's policy planning department, becoming its head in 1961. Then he became head of Chancery in Paris in the 1960s during Britain's failed entry to the Common Market before a two-year sabbatical at the Institute of Strategic Studies in London. He was then appointed High Commissioner in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1969.

In 1971 he became Ambassador to Iran.

He was Ambassador to the United States (1974–1977). He had a close relationship with Jimmy Carter, and was the first ambassador Carter invited to the White House.

Ramsbotham was removed from his position as Ambassador to the United States by incoming Foreign Secretary David Owen. Owen controversially replaced him with Peter Jay, who was economics editor of The Times, the son-in-law of Prime Minister James Callaghan and Owen's personal friend.

Ramsbotham's final posting was as Governor of Bermuda (1977–1980). During his governorship, the two assassins of Sir Richard Sharples, the former governor, were hanged. The executions were followed by extensive protests, as a result of which troops had to be sent to Bermuda to restore order.

Upon retirement in 1980, Ramsbotham was very much in demand and became a director of Lloyds and Commercial Union.

Honours and title

He was appointed Companion (CMG) of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1964, promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in 1972, becoming Sir Peter Ramsbotham, and promoted again to Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) in 1978. In 1976, he was appointed Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) of the Royal Victorian Order as well as Knight (KStJ) of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem. He inherited the title of Viscount Soulbury from his elder brother in 2004 but continued to be known as Sir Peter Ramsbotham.

Family

His first marriage was to Frances Marie Massie Blomfield. They were married on 30 August 1941 and their marriage ended with her death in 1982. His second marriage was to Dr Zaida Mary Hall, née Megrah, in 1985 (died 17 March 2013). He died in New Alresford, Hampshire on 9 April 2010.

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