Cedric Belfrage
Encyclopedia
Cedric Henning Belfrage (November 8, 1904 – June 21, 1990) was a socialist, author, journalist, translator and co-founder of the radical US-weekly newspaper the National Guardian. In 2009 historian Ronald Radosh
said that "we now know, from VENONA and the Vassiliev documents, [that Belfrage was also] a KGB agent."
, Belfrage was educated at Gresham's School
, Holt
and started his writing career as a film critic at Cambridge University
, where he published his first article in Kinematograph Weekly (1924). In 1927, Belfrage went to Hollywood, where he was hired by the New York Sun
and Film Weekly as a correspondent. Belfrage returned to London in 1930 as Sam Goldwyn's press agent. Returning to Hollywood, he became politically active, joining the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, co-editing a left literary magazine, The Clipper.
Belfrage joined the US Communist Party in 1937, but withdrew his membership a few months later. Thereafter, he maintained a friendly but critical relationship. During World War II
he worked in the British Security Coordination
for the Western hemisphere. In 1948, he co-founded, along with James Aronson
and John T. McManus
, and wrote for, the National Guardian (renamed the Guardian in 1967) to which he would remain affiliated until the late 1960s.
, Belfrage was summoned in 1953 to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee
(HUAC). In 1955, he was deported by the U.S.
government back to his native England. His wife, Molly Castle, had already been deported by that time. He travelled to Cuba
in 1961. In 1962, he travelled throughout South America
, finally settling in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In 1973, Cedric Belfrage returned to the US for the first time since 1955, touring around the country with his new book, The American Inquisition (Bobbs Merrill, 1973, Siglo XXI, Mexico, Thunder' Mouth Press, 1989).
. Most notably, Belfrage was commissioned by Monthly Review Press to translate Galeano's Open Veins of Latin America, recently presented by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Barack Obama. Belfrage continued to write extensively until his last years.
. The interview covered his relations with Earl Browder
, Jacob Golos
, V. J. Jerome
, and surveillance
s and documents about Scotland Yard
and the Vichy Government of France.
In 1995, the decrypted VENONA intercepts—a project between the U.S. and British intelligence services to decipher Soviet wires—were made public. United States intelligence has alleged that Un-named codename number 9 (UNC/9) was Belfrage. Venona also had a cover name “Charlie” that was not identified by the FBI. The 1948 Gorsky Memo, found in Soviet Archives, identifies Belfrage as having a covert relationship with Soviet intelligence as a member of the “Sound” and “Myrna” groups. Seven Venona decrpyts reference UNC/9 in passing conversations between Belfrage's bureau chief and Winston Churchill on to the Soviets.
and Nicolas Belfrage
with wife Molly Castle, and Anne Belfrage-Hertz (Zribi) with partner Anne-Marie Hertz. He was the younger brother of actor/BBC
newsreader
Bruce Belfrage
(1900–1974).
Ronald Radosh
Ronald Radosh is an American writer, professor, historian, former Marxist, and neoconservative. He is known for his work on the Cold War espionage case of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg and his advocacy of the state of Israel....
said that "we now know, from VENONA and the Vassiliev documents, [that Belfrage was also] a KGB agent."
Literary and political development
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Belfrage was educated at Gresham's School
Gresham's School
Gresham’s School is an independent coeducational boarding school in Holt in North Norfolk, England, a member of the HMC.The school was founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham as a free grammar school for forty boys, following King Henry VIII's dissolution of the Augustinian priory at Beeston Regis...
, Holt
Holt, Norfolk
Holt is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The town is north of the city of Norwich, west of Cromer and east of King's Lynn. The town is on the route of the A148 King's Lynn to Cromer road. The nearest railway station is in the town of Sheringham where access to the...
and started his writing career as a film critic at Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he published his first article in Kinematograph Weekly (1924). In 1927, Belfrage went to Hollywood, where he was hired by the New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
and Film Weekly as a correspondent. Belfrage returned to London in 1930 as Sam Goldwyn's press agent. Returning to Hollywood, he became politically active, joining the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, co-editing a left literary magazine, The Clipper.
Belfrage joined the US Communist Party in 1937, but withdrew his membership a few months later. Thereafter, he maintained a friendly but critical relationship. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he worked in the British Security Coordination
British Security Coordination
British Security Coordination was a covert organization set up in New York City by the British Secret Intelligence Service in May 1940 upon the authorization of Winston Churchill.-Operation:...
for the Western hemisphere. In 1948, he co-founded, along with James Aronson
James Aronson
James Aronson was an American journalist. He founded the left-leaning National Guardian. He was a graduate of Harvard College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.- Work before the Guardian :...
and John T. McManus
John T. McManus
John Thomas McManus was an American journalist active in progressive politics in the 1950s and 1960s best known as co-founder of the National Guardian, a left-leaning newspaper....
, and wrote for, the National Guardian (renamed the Guardian in 1967) to which he would remain affiliated until the late 1960s.
Questioned during McCarthy-era
At the height of McCarthyismMcCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
, Belfrage was summoned in 1953 to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
(HUAC). In 1955, he was deported by the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government back to his native England. His wife, Molly Castle, had already been deported by that time. He travelled to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in 1961. In 1962, he travelled throughout South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, finally settling in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In 1973, Cedric Belfrage returned to the US for the first time since 1955, touring around the country with his new book, The American Inquisition (Bobbs Merrill, 1973, Siglo XXI, Mexico, Thunder' Mouth Press, 1989).
Exile years
Belfrage later debuted as a Spanish-English translator, notably for the Latin American author Eduardo GaleanoEduardo Galeano
Eduardo Hughes Galeano is a Uruguayan journalist, writer and novelist. His best known works are Memoria del fuego and Las venas abiertas de América Latina which have been translated into twenty languages and transcend orthodox genres: combining fiction, journalism, political analysis, and...
. Most notably, Belfrage was commissioned by Monthly Review Press to translate Galeano's Open Veins of Latin America, recently presented by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Barack Obama. Belfrage continued to write extensively until his last years.
Intelligence and counter-intelligence reputation
According to FBI files, Belfrage was questioned by the FBI in 1947 about his involvement with the Communist PartyCommunist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
. The interview covered his relations with Earl Browder
Earl Browder
Earl Russell Browder was an American communist and General Secretary of the Communist Party USA from 1934 to 1945. He was expelled from the party in 1946.- Early years :...
, Jacob Golos
Jacob Golos
Jacob Golos, , was a Ukrainian-born Bolshevik revolutionary of ethnic Jewish heritage who became a secret police operative on behalf of the USSR in the United States...
, V. J. Jerome
V. J. Jerome
Victor Jeremy Jerome was a Polish-American communist writer and editor. He is best remembered as a Marxist cultural essayist and as the long-time editor of the theoretical journal of the Communist Party USA.-Early years:...
, and surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
s and documents about Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
and the Vichy Government of France.
In 1995, the decrypted VENONA intercepts—a project between the U.S. and British intelligence services to decipher Soviet wires—were made public. United States intelligence has alleged that Un-named codename number 9 (UNC/9) was Belfrage. Venona also had a cover name “Charlie” that was not identified by the FBI. The 1948 Gorsky Memo, found in Soviet Archives, identifies Belfrage as having a covert relationship with Soviet intelligence as a member of the “Sound” and “Myrna” groups. Seven Venona decrpyts reference UNC/9 in passing conversations between Belfrage's bureau chief and Winston Churchill on to the Soviets.
Family
Belfrage had three children; Sally BelfrageSally Belfrage
Sally Belfrage was an United States-born British-based 20th century non-fiction writer and international journalist...
and Nicolas Belfrage
Nicolas Belfrage
Nicolas Belfrage is a British Master of Wine, a wine writer and considered an expert on Italian wine.-Career:Belfrage was born in Los Angeles in 1940, the son of British/American socialist writer Cedric Belfrage and his wife Molly Castle...
with wife Molly Castle, and Anne Belfrage-Hertz (Zribi) with partner Anne-Marie Hertz. He was the younger brother of actor/BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
newsreader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
Bruce Belfrage
Bruce Belfrage
Bruce Belfrage was an English actor and BBC newsreader.Like his brother, the author and journalist Cedric Belfrage, Bruce Belfrage was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk....
(1900–1974).
Books
- Away From It All. Gollancz, London, 1937; Simon and Schuster, 1937; Literary Guild, 1937 Penguin (Britain).
- Promised Land. Gollancz, London, 1937; Left Book Club, London, 1937; Republished by Garland, New York, Classics of Film Literature series, 1983.
- Let My People Go. Gollancz, London, 1937.
- South of God. Left Book Club, 1938.
- A Faith to Free the People. Modern Age, New York, 1942; Dryden Press, New York, 1944; Book Find Club, 1944.
- They All Hold Swords. Modern Age, New York, 1941.
- Abide With Me. Sloane Associates, New York, 1948; Secker and Warburg, London, 1948.
- Seeds of destruction; the truth about the U.S. occupation of Germany Cameron and Kahn, New York, 1954.
- The Frightened Giant. Secker and Warburg, London, 1956.
- My Master Columbus. Secker and Warburg, 1961; Doubleday, New York, 1962; Editiones Contemporaneous, Mexico, (in Spanish).
- The Man at the Door With the Gun. Monthly Review, New York, 1963.
- The American Inquisition. Bobbs-Merrill, 1973; Siglo XXI, Mexico (in Spanish). Thunder's Mouth Press, 1989.
- Something to Guard. Columbia University Press, 1978.
Sources
- Cedric Belfrage interview, 8 June 1947, FBI Silvermaster file, serial 2522, pgs. 47-49 (pgs. 446, 447, 448 in original).
- Cedric Belfrage statement, 3 June 1947, FBI Silvermaster file, serial 2583, pgs. 50-56 (pgs. 318-324 in original).
- Elizabeth Bentley deposition, 30 November 1945, FBI file 65-14603