British Information Services

The British Information Services (BIS) was the New York based information department of the British Embassy in Washington DC, an overseas post of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London. The BIS aims to answer the questions most frequently asked in the United States about Britain and provide up-to-date government comment on current events where Britain has a role to play . It appears that its services have now been taken over by the Public Affairs Team of the British Embassy in Washington DC.

History

Ronald Tree was amongst those who staffed BIS in the early 1940s. A 'connection' of the Astors and part of the Cliveden Set, 'He was born and brought up here, Winchester and all... became joint master of the Pytchley Hunt, was elected to parliament in the awakening 1930s and found Ditchley Park to live in':

Tree is proof that the Astor network (miscalled the Cliveden set) had two quite opposite sides. He and his sort were as actively and resolutely against appeasement as others among their friends, relations and hangers-on were for it. He tells here ... of the birth and growth of the wartime British Information Services in the United States as neutrality shaded into alliance: Tree was midwife -- as he was of other more voluntary transatlantic ventures bringing relief and the co-operation of men with drive and pull.

People

• 1986-91 David Snoxell (British Information Services) (Director)

Publications

• list of BIS publications on the Open Library website: British Information Services