24 NOVEMBER 1950, Page 30

SIR,—The writer of the article on "our secret police," in

your issue of November 17th, ,s mistaken in his statement about the formation of M.I.5.. It came into existence as M.0.5—I was present at its birth and the dates have been published—not after 1918, but in 1910. It was aug- mented in 1912 and was going strong from 1914 to 1918, under the late Colonel Sir Vernon Kell. It changed its name from M.0.5 to M.I.5 when in 1915 the Directorate of Military Operations and Intelligence was divided intcs the two Directorates of " 0 " and "L"—Your obedient