Secret History (iii)

Historians need to know the secret side of history in order to have a full and balanced picture of the past. The secret side may not be very important. Only 'conspiracy theorists' believe it invariably is: that the major events of history are all plotted behind our backs. On the other hand there is no reason in logic to believe that covert actions are never effective. (The forthcoming Channel 4 series promises to demonstrate that). And it clearly defies common sense and experience to believe that they never take place. Consequently they are a part of history, and should be grist to the historian's mill.

Unfortunately it is a grist that is often difficult to find. Some of the reasons are obvious. There is usually less documentation of this kind of thing in the first place. As little as possible is written down. Agents are sent on their missions with a word, a whisper, or even just a nod and a wink. Afterwards traces are covered over, more or less effectively. Little finds its way back into the official archives. Witnesses are sworn or scared into secrecy. All this is done mainly to hide these events from contemporaries, but it obviously hinders future historians too.