A shriveled, 110-year-old lemon. Tiny cameras. A talcum powder tin. An abandoned briefcase. What do these objects have in common? Espionage! They’re part of spy history. And they’re all on display at Great Britain’s National Archives.
You can find this new exhibit in London, England. It’s called “MI5: Official Secrets.”
MI5 stands for “Military Intelligence, Section 5.” It’s also called the Security Service. It began in 1909 as the Secret Service Bureau. Back then, it had only two officers. Now it’s one of the United Kingdom’s top security agencies.
Much of MI5 history remains secret. Spy novels tell fictional stories about the agency.
Those tales tend to stray from reality. Ken McCallum is the director of MI5. He says the group’s real work “is often different from fiction.” Slowly, officials reveal the true stories. They began releasing records in 1997. Still, the public doesn’t know everything.
Ben Macintyre writes books about agencies like MI5. “It would be a mistake to assume everything is in the exhibition,” he says.
Even so, ordinary citizens know more about MI5 than ever before.
“A generation ago, this stuff was totally secret,” says Mr. Macintyre.
The new exhibit explores that hidden history. But—what’s with the shriveled lemon?
The wrinkly fruit belonged to Karl Muller. He spied for the Germans during World War I. The lemon wasn’t a sour snack. It was real life spy tool. Mr. Muller used its juice as invisible ink. He wrote letters to Germany. He told the Germany military about British troop movements. (It’s like the famous saying. “When life gives you lemons, commit treason.” Just kidding. Don’t do that.)
Eventually, Mr. Muller got caught. Authorities used the lemon as evidence against him.
God tells us that all hidden things will be revealed. (Luke 12:2) People can keep secrets from each other. But nobody can keep secrets from God. Not even MI5! There’s comfort in following a God who knows everything.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. — Joshua 1:9
