Britain's 'mr X' - (Key Studies in Diplomacy) by Jonathan Colman (Hardcover)

About the Book

Britain's 'Mr X' explores the long and influential career of the British diplomat Sir Frank Roberts, including his close collaboration with the renowned American diplomat, George F. Kennan (the cryptonymous author 'X' of an influential 1947 article) at the dawn of the Cold War.

Book Synopsis

Over four decades as a diplomat, Sir Frank Roberts dealt with headline issues, including policy towards Germany during the years of appeasement, the Second World War alliance with the Soviet Union, the origins of the Cold War, NATO affairs, the Berlin and Cuban Missile Crises, European integration, and relations with the Federal Republic of Germany. Collaborating with the renowned American diplomat, George F. Kennan (the cryptonymous author 'X' of an influential 1947 article), his despatches from Moscow in 1946 shaped Britain's Cold War strategy. In 1954 he played an integral part in the diplomacy behind the rearmament of the Federal Republic and her incorporation into NATO, helping to build an enduring structure of transatlantic security. Roberts' career sheds new light on British foreign policy across an era in which Britain slipped from global pre-eminence to regional power status.

From the Back Cover

'Frank Roberts was one of the foremost British diplomats of the Cold War. He held senior posts in major European capitals and did much to shape Britain's relations with West Germany, Yugoslavia, NATO and the Soviet Union. Colman's book, although focussing primarily on Roberts' diplomatic career, is also very strongly biographical, casting fascinating insights into his subject's formative years, including his cherished Lancashire roots. Anyone interested in twentieth century British foreign policy, especially in the period after the Second World War, should read this book.'
Gaynor Johnson, Professor Emerita in International History, University of Kent

'A welcome addition to the literature on twentieth century British foreign policy. As well as allowing us to see diplomacy from the viewpoint of a consummate insider and throwing new light on key episodes, like the Cuban Missile Crisis, Colman's exhaustive study of Roberts' career, based on meticulous transatlantic research, is especially useful for highlighting distinctively British approaches to global issues.'
John W. Young, Professor Emeritus in History, University of Nottingham

'A powerful reminder that international relations are shaped by people and that there are many, like Frank Roberts, who play a key role without becoming household names.'
Allen Packwood, Director, Churchill Archives Centre, University of Cambridge

Over four decades in the British foreign service, Sir Frank Roberts dealt with headline issues, including policy towards Germany during the years of appeasement, the Second World War alliance with the Soviet Union, and the origins of the Cold War. In 1954 he played an integral part in the diplomacy behind the rearmament of the Federal Republic and her incorporation into NATO. Roberts' career, largely overlooked by historians, shows how officials can shape major events, and sheds new light on British foreign policy across an era in which Britain slipped from global pre-eminence to regional power status. Knowledge of his contributions matters in a world where Russia and NATO confront one another again. The product of meticulous archival research, Britain's 'Mr X' explores the long and successful career of one of Britain's most important diplomats.

Review Quotes

Contemporary verdicts about Frank Roberts

'The most supremely competent of all the professional diplomatists I have known.'
George F. Kennan
'A sharp-witted and capable person.'
Stalin
'A superlative operator.'
Lord Thomas Brimelow

Reviews of Britain's 'Mr X'

'Frank Roberts was one of the foremost British diplomats of the Cold War. He held senior posts in major European capitals and did much to shape Britain's relations with West Germany, Yugoslavia, NATO and the Soviet Union. A man possessed of a formidable intellect and work ethic, he was widely seen by his contemporaries as the diplomats' diplomat. Dr Colman's book, although focussing primarily on Roberts' diplomatic career, is also very strongly biographical, casting fascinating insights into his subject's formative years, including his cherished Lancashire roots. Dr Colman is a leading British historian of the Cold War in Europe and North America, and this book benefits enormously from the depth of insight that he is thus able to bring to the material. Anyone interested in twentieth century British foreign policy, especially in the period after the Second World War, should read this book.'
Gaynor Johnson, Professor Emerita in International History, University of Kent

'A powerful reminder that international relations are shaped by people and that there are many, like Frank Roberts, who play a key role without becoming household names.'
Allen Packwood, Director, Churchill Archives Centre, University of Cambridge

'Jonathan Colman's latest book is a welcome addition to the literature on twentieth century British foreign policy, focusing as it does on one of the country's leading diplomats, Sir Frank Roberts, who rose to become ambassador to Yugoslavia (1954-57), NATO (1957-60), the USSR (1960-62) and West Germany (1963-68). As well as allowing us to see diplomacy from the viewpoint of a consummate insider and throwing new light on key episodes, like the Cuban Missile Crisis, Colman's exhaustive study of Roberts' career, based on meticulous transatlantic research, is especially useful for highlighting distinctively British approaches to global issues. This is especially clear in 1946, when Roberts' belief that Britain, though firmness and patience, could find a way to work with the Kremlin, had both similarities to and differences from the view of his American colleague, George F. Kennan.'
John W. Young, Professor Emeritus in History, University of Nottingham.

About the Author

Jonathan Colman is Senior Lecturer in International History at the University of Lancashire. A former By-Fellow at the Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge, he has published widely on British and American foreign policies and diplomatic representation.