A Necessary Relationship : The Development of Anglo-American Cooperation in Naval Intelligence

The relationship of the United States and Great Britain has been the subject of numerous studies with a particular emphasis on the idea of a "special relationship" based on traditional common ties of language, history, and political affinity.

Although certainly special, Anglo-American cooperation arose from mutual necessity.

Soybel examines the "special relationship" through a new lens - that of the most intimate of wartime collaborations, the naval intelligence relationship.

Rather than looking at the uses of intelligence and espionage, Soybel explores how the cooperation was established and maintained, particularly through the creation of administrative bureaucracies, as well as how World War I and inter-war efforts helped pave the way towards greater cooperation during World War II.

While still giving credit to the unique alliance that has survived for the last fifty years, this study shows that the close ties were necessary, not special.