This sheet of paper and all of its contents must be' safeguarded with the greatest care. 

Utmost secrecy is necessary to prevent drying up this sort of vital intelligence at its source. 

A StJ118m7 

o~ the 

History ot Co.U.boratioa ~French 

Cl7.Ptclog1c Aigenoiea 

1909 - 1939 

aa revealed 1D a tile ot 

M1Diatry ot War CorreepcadeDce 

ARMED FORCES SECURITY AGENCY 

TOP SECRET i\CORN 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 06-03-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
This sheet of paper and all of its contents must be safeguarded with the greatest care. 

Utmost secrecy is necessary to prevent drying up this sort of vital intelligence at its source. 

SU1118rJ· of a tile of French Ministry of War Correspondence, 

1909 to 1939 

B1Jl!PZ'l: 

A collecticm ot docUMDta rrca tho tiles ot the 01"11>tolosio Sect1ca, 

Deunime Bureau.., km:! General Statt .o Nin1atr7 ot War baa boon rapidly 

em1n94. The 4ocmmta dM1. wtl3 Y1t.h a:rsamzat.1ca ot the or.n>tologlc 

aen1cea and. ettorta at oollaborat1mi ll8llJ8 tho service• ot the ane:ral 

Min1etr1•• eneasect. in Cl'7,Ptolog1o aot1T1t1ea .. 

'l'hree tacta eaerge rrc. a •t~ ot tbeae papen: 

lo The Anq Cr7ptoJ.os1o S.nioe,. traa. l.909 at lee.at until 19398 

undontood the need tor olon ooll&barat1an a.:mg the aeTere.l oryptologto 

AgeDciea,, both tar cr.r.ptanal,tie aD4 027Pto-aeaarity aot1v1t1eao 

2o 'l'he other M1Di•tr1ea llha.rGcS. tJw .A:ni,yulll View& and actUltJ.l.y Jo1Ded 

111 truittu.l o~ ottorta -· all but the Ministry of J'oreign Atta1Z'll,, 

}o Apart tram. the var 1Mr8 1914-18.., the M1n1stey ot Foreign Attain 

atea.41'aat)3 retuaed to c0c>operate Yi th the other aerY1cea, except 1D 

certain l1Ja1 ted tielde o It vu conetant~ 1Dd1cted by t.be Ara:! tar i ta 

failure to collaborate, and it atan4a gailt7 b7 ita own 1111tatemta or 

a G~lete lack ot und.eretan1Ung ~the ¥aJ1' 1D which the •tiaaal 

inte:re•t C8D be MJ'Ted b7 a uni.tied Crn>tol.Ogic C• Dt1I a 

l 

ARMED FORCES SECURITY AGENCY 

T()P SEeRET AeORN 
This sheet of paper and all of its contents must be safeguarded with the greatest care. 

Utmost secrecy is necessary to prevent drying up this sort of vital intelligence at its source. 

Diacuaaion: 

On 11 January 19091 the French M1n1ater ot War (G. Picquart) 

addressed to the President of the Republic a letttfr in· which he Jlllde · 

the tollowiDS points: 

(a) Certain M1n1etr1ea and "OraD4a Sen1oee" -.ch haft a 

crn>tosraphic eervice vhoae tiret purpose 111 to 9D8Ul"9 the MOuriV 

ot that orgUaizat1cm•a o(mlmioat1cma. 

(b) Al.thougb their probl_. are anaJ.ogoue, theee bureaue 

work ocnpletelJ al.am. 

( c) It would be 4Hirable tor thma to eatabliah 8'UOh 

relat1me aa vould perait thm to exchange rteva and stud¥ cert&ill 

•ttera ot smenJ. 1ntereat in ccmaon., 

(d) To thia end, an IntenWUaterial Crn>togr&phio CCl81ea1on 

llhoul4 be eatabllahecl, 1nclu41Ds repreaentat1Yee of each ot the separate 

Thia lette2" vu acccnpen1ecl b7 a clratt ~ a deoree aettiDs up auch 

a Camaiea1an, vhoee president voul.4 be the Prea1dct ot the Mil1t&r7 

Cr,yptographic Ccmaise1cr&. The 4ratt decree vae a19194 b7 the M1D1atera 

ot War, Interior, BaT.Y, Colamee ad.Public Warka (Poat, Telephcme and 

'l'eleSE"&ph) • 

Bo turtber docmalate bearing an the Ccmaiee1GD. are an1lable, 

until a report ot a mMtins, apparentlJ the tuat, OD 14 ~ 1912. Pren 

thia report 1t appeeril that the Preaidmt ot the CQB!a•im bad 'been 

tr71D8 to orsaniz• tor reedh1ea• 1D cue ot vaz- a "Ccmi ti de ~tftre· 

mnt" (preauabl.J a ozn>taimlytio orS11A1zaticn) Md had. 1DY1tod the 

2 

ARMED FORCES SECURITY AGENCY 

T()P SECRET A€0RN 
This sheet of paper and all of its contents must be safeguarded with the greatest care. 

Utmost secrecy is necessary to prevent drying up this sort of vital intelligence at its source. 

Fo.reig11 Min1stey' to participate.. beMdiately, the ncm-cooperative 

attitude ot that Min1atr.T,.1 an attitude which. vu to i>G1"11111t tor WrtT 

JMl"ISi vu .a.e ..mtest.. Th& Fareisn Miniatr;r, while it bmd decided 

en 1te repreemtat1vea, retuaed.. to 41TUJ.ae the1r DllDIN! or order thm to 

Join the ~ttM until "the 1nunt of neecl". TM C~aaicm decided 

that it ooul4 not wait for tlat lila!iWmt to begin to create ao cQlljplex an 

org11Dizat1cm, and proceeded to tab stepe 1D t.bat d!rectian without the 

cooperat1cn of the Qua1 490nq.. A -U sroup ~..a int.ended to fO.l"lll 

the nucleua ot a cr;n>tolosio orsm1zat1CG :lD the event ot var vu, theretore, g1T81l iutructim 1D 017PtaDa]Ja1e. 

The In.tel'!l1D1ater1al CClllll1saian met peno41calJ¥ tram~ 1912 to 

June 1914.. (Ite next, and probe.bl.7 Jut meeting took place 1n April 1922) o 

B;y t.h8 middle ot 19161 tVo 7ear& af't@r tbe beginning ot the war, en 

the evidence ot a UD1dent1t1ed Dlllllber ot the atatt ot the henoh ~ 

Bead.quarters, ·there were :t1ve aepa.rate crypt.am17t1c agencies tunct.10D1JJS: 

1n the J'oreisii M1D1atr7 1 1D. tbe War M1D1atr71 at GHQ, 1n t.be strati 

~ and 1D the Raval. M1Diet.ry. Scme desN• ot coUaboraticm existed 

-ms certain of theae bur.ua, but tar the Jm)llt part t1ut1 operated :ln• 

c1epemdentl.Jr 1D ap1te ot cmt1n111ng ettorta b7 tbe War M1D1et.ry to briDS 

about cloeer relAticaa. 

Although there 1a ev1d£"e · cnl1' ot an imperi'ect ld.zad ot oolla'borat1cn betvem the Anq and the Foreign M1n1atr;y 4ur1D8 the W'8.l" 1n the 

docummte, a letter an 20 Deomber 1918 on War M1D1.atr;y letter bead 

1D41oatee that the writer MA the heed. ot the P'areip M1D1atr;y C1"1PW... 

graphic Senice, M. llemi tte, bad worked cloeel.7 tosether 4U1"1.ns the wazo o 

'l'he writer, howner, :'eared. that 1aolat1cn1et aentimmt, et.rans 1n the 

' ARMED FORCES SECURITY AGENCY 

TOP SECRET A60RN 
This sheet of paper and all of its contents must be safeguarded with the greatest care. 

Utmost secrecy is nl.'cessary to prevent drying up this sort of ''ital intelligence at its source. 

Quai d 00rsay, would load to a. rupture 1.n this relationship,, so 1mportant 

during t.he period of peac-a negotiaticne c 

Asa1n in December 1919, the War M.1nist.ry proposed. a ce:o.tre.J.1zat1cm 

ot ettort, wh1Clb. the Foreigr;i M1D1et.ry reJected can.pl.et.e]J ao. 4 JADU11r7 

19201 ~ that "tlw -argumtmta o'f war ... tinre can not ,. o. be invoked in 

time ot :peace tor tho ,3o1n1Dg ot e:l.milar aervicee which hcmcetortb 

have to occupy themselves With text.a of quite ditrermt character which 

are of 1nteroat to our respective Dept.rtatm.te"o 

'lb hietorf ot t.b;e tw&Qt.y reare to.Uowing is a ccmtinuOWI story ot 

.ch attempt be1Dg balk8d. by the re:t'wsa.l Qf the Min1e.rt17 or J'ore1{1Jl 

Affair. to participate in~ real pool:l.ng ot reaoarce11 otbar then 

exc'MDge or acne tr&ttic and, tar a timB.o ot certain d.ec:Jnt1oae., 

It wq be uetu.il. 1n thia pl.ace to quote t.rca a letter co t.hie 

aubJect, dated 4 Fe'b.'ruu7 l,922, tree Mc Maginotg th.ea M1.D.1eter of War" 

to the Prmd.•r, M" Poi.~, who waa tbm. alao the l'oro1~ Min1ater. 

(Mo Poino8re", aa cae of hia 1'1ret a.eta ca aam.a1.ng office, had ordered 

the ll'onian M1m.at.17 to ceue CM'tld1ng atq- decrn>t1au to the~") 

'rhl!t note oitee the :ror.dSil MinioU';f"• d111lJO.tch of 4 January l,920 referred 

to abm-e, and goee cm. to ea;r, 

"I w1U aak yw to be k1n4 enough to inquire into vbether, 

without •pak'ng ut 9 c<ZM:eatrat1mt- ot the Cr;r.pto.logtc Service•, 

thore miebt not be reuon to strengthen collaboraticn NllCJll8 

the in a. practical way, 1.Datead of re-eatabl18h1l!\8 watert1ebt CClllp.l~ta .. oo o '!'he queat1cn ot •pecial1zat1ca ot ~:ttorta 

accord.1ns to the nature or the cantent ca not, ~ .. be With 

utility aet forth vbm what 11111 at 1aeue 1e not the explo1taticn 

ot the can.tent of foreign telegram, but the di•coveey ot their 

keya :- 1D real.1 cy tbe addreaaea do not meea V•'l7 much w1 th 

reapect to the rcM.l addreaaee ~the var cl.ea.rl,y ahoved this) and 

until. it bu been poaa1ble to ree4 a tei..sr-, ita ccm.tent 1a 

DQt Jmown tor tho purpoeo of deterll1D1Dg which Departamt 1 t 

intereirtao Bow at pre•ent, aa before the war" for lack of llll 

ARMED FORCES SECURITY AGENCY 

T()P SEeRET AeORN 
This sheet of paper and all of its contents must be safeguarded with the greatest care. 

t:tmost secrecy is necessary to prevent drying up this sort of vital intelligence at its source. 

over-all di:mc·Gian or o-r. an m:tderetanding ammig the chiefs of 

the Cr11n.oloe;t1' Services, it is eaey to prave that eerta1n 

nater1ala which reach A Min1at.ey ~ through tho Intelllgeaoe 

Service,, for is:ample, rana1n unuoed. without a eerienw effort 0a 

beiDS made to tl9t out of th• all they can yield, ainoe the 

existence o'f the needed text& or ot cClll.J)l.eluntar;;r Womat1m 

1e not ~a we~.l lmown to the service that holds t.beae 

•tenw". 

Ill a note 'maant to be read to t.he Interm1Diater1al Cr,yptographio 

C~lia1aa.," of 4 Auauat 1922, the authcr (preausb]J Colc:nel Givior99) 

cites this latter and atatea tbat the J'are1guM1m.at.r1' 414 DOt repq 

to 1to Be goee m ·oo eay, 

"We have, at War and k\7, 1Jl.partlmt 1Df'onnat1on 

CQdCerning Cer1°A1n i'o.re1gii 0Z7Ptograph1c Q"Btala 0 We have 

f'requant~ canmm1cated. thi• 1Df'cmrat1Cll to the J'ore!Sl 

Miniatry vi thout h&.ViDs been able to go m v1 th 1 ta ei:plo1 -t;a... 

ticm -- f'urthC"lllOre, it eoau that the Depsrtnernt 1n que11tim.v 

for la·lk: of per."BOllUl, aUova a large pa.rt of the •terial 

OQllll!M1e&ted, 'tf> 1t to be loetooocooooo•o•o•ovoooooeooooou~" 

attitude ot the P'oreisn Minietr;y en the subject or collabarat1on is 

cl.early aet forth :ll~ the tollow1Dg unsigned note of 8 Juno 1939 o 

"lfote en the subJect of a pl.AD '!or C-.tral.1zat1an ot 

cryptam.\Tt1C ettorta 1n tiJle ot W&ro 

"DuriDS a rec•t aeae1ca "'f the bi•mcmtblJr meetins ot the Beads 

ot the CZ'l'PtnM)Jtio serrtce, the queatica or the creat1c:n tor wartime 

ot a h1sher central bureau ot Cl'J'Ptaml.3&1• vu brought upo 

n Thia bureau would be char894 V1 th proceedtns to lltudi•• tor tbo 

d1accwel"J" ot the elllllrn>tills •"tbai4a used abroad and v1 th fUmialu.ns 

to the spec1al 017Pi'Alw]Jt1c bureau OlllMl'&l. 1Dt'Clll'at1ca auace;pt1ble 

ot :tacUi tatiDg their work tar th•. 

" The boQ envieaged eecna to 8-wer a med far tbe M1D1atr1ea of 

lfatiar.al DDfenae proper: War, Jl&Y)" and Air. hen tbe al.DH relat1CJD:a 

llhip ot the obJecte ot the act1Y1tJ of tbeae de~•. u well u 

f'rCla the a1111lAr1t.J ot the Bethocle ~ b7 tbe MU1tal7 Mw'Di•tntic:aa, it follon 1D t'act that a pooHns ot •tu41• am z...ult. 1• 

~-1•'bl.y uaeh.lo 

ARMED FORCES SECURITY A.GE~CY 

TOP SECRET A€0RN 
This sheet of paper and all of its contents must be safeguarded with the greatest care. 

Utmost secrecy is necessary to prevent drying up this sort of \'ital intelligence at its source. 

" The same ie not iArU8 for the Mmiutry o:t Fore:tgn Af'fl}irsp wh.m1e 

dcaain 111 ditterentttted by detin:.1 tion from. that of t.he a:fo.remsnt1CMd 

Dapartamte, vhile e;t the eame time rma1n1ns UnJmd. by th.A -cOlill'.!tClll 

goal pul"ll\1edo Becaua~e tJle oDcr.n:'tiDg RDt.bcda uaed by the Mplmati.c 

am the alli tary autlwr1 t1ea are Jll08t diae1m1 lar, and also beceuse tho 

:rore1SJl Attaire CJ."1P'~ic bureau bu never ca:we:med 1tael:r With 

mil1"ta17 

the .._ bm.et1 

11'9tsu, 

t tar 

tbil 

j,to 

central.1u.t1cm CNJDOt, 1n princ1ple8 ~ 

" It 111 DGUthelotJS true; 1no1dm:te.ll.7, that tbe l1a1son, t.beu tM 

ool.1A'borl&t1ca, already catabliebed betvem tbe 027PtNIAlytic buroe.w. 

have siv• reaulta :rnr certain couul&.r cod.Ni. ·'l'heae cod.98 1D. fact 

oOYC- text. which oct!etimea ccntai:n. 1ntell1gence 1111eful to the 

Min1etriea ot llat1omu Detenae o 

':"" It 1• worth !lot:~, llC«'GO'f'er, that w.bea. it 111 a qucat1an or 

oClllplicatod 

in le&m1.DS 

method.a, 

how they vaz:ok 

tbe mast 

<m:b" capable at tile coat 

apecial.iate 

or· J.cmg 

succeed 

reeca.rchn ~ o 

" llovever that ~ be, the cr.T.Ptann.lytic bureau of tbe Miniatr;J ot 

Fore1SD Attain 1a f\-mctimiDs at the :mameat., u a reBUlt of Til1"10WJ 

C~N, cal,y 1'71 th an ~ ireduoed p$l"llOGW:tlo Ettorta are 

bei!lg mad.€t to Nintorce 1 t but at preeimt that bureau would. find. 1 t 

e.baolute.JJ' 1l'llll0e•1bll· to detach a uaetu.l mcber to the Central Bw:eeu 

Yi.thout, ~&1Dg it,a own act1v1"!:;.1ee '" .. a roault which 1111 ou..---!.DU&l,y 

ccm:tra.r.r to the pl oought .. 

" '!'be M11ii•tr.r ot Jloreiga. Atta:'a-a could tharotore flll1"1eage, at the 

begSnn1ng or boet1l1 t,1 .. , anl7 .. trequat a 11a111cn aa Will appear 

useful.o 

" I:t later cm the m.aber ot peraoaml in 1 ta ~10 bureau 

8hould permit., the d.etaohMnt of n 11peo1&l1e't to tb9 Catn-.1 lluree.u 

JlligJlt then be c~la:tedo n 

CC¥1ff!19': 

We have DO direct d.oolamtary ft'i&mce oZ ta. aituaUcm 111.noe 

1939 vi th reepect to C17Ptolos1c cooperation betVHlll the Mim.etriea o 

J'raa euab 1nd1rect ev1clmoe u ~ oamtructic:m. ot codeboolm9 met.hod.a 

of· enci~t, etca, J:u:liwnerb it. a~ that t.:btlJ precoWm•l.d War ll 

situation h.u not ch9.l~o Altl1o\i.8h the:re vu &~t.\7 !ICl!ie :C'<Xl"'C@d 

oollaborat1cm durins the var w~ !or lack of codeboob of their om 

6 

ARMED FORCES SECURITY AGENCY 

~OP SECRET i

1

1CORN 
This sheet of paper and all of its contents must be safeguarded with the greatest care. 

Utmost secrecy is necessary to prevent drying up this sort of vital intelligence at its source. 

the d1plallllat1c and ool.Dn1Al departments or the Free French Government 

were obll.ged to barrow Anq and •~Y codea, th1a practice came to im 

4md ahortl.y after the ree11t.ablill!IMa.t ot the Govon1D&D.t ill Paris o 

Thia h1ataey of the hanch crn>"toe:rap.bic :practice 1D recent TftC8 

po1Dta to the ccacluaicu that (a) t.bare ie ;probab]J no l!liagle 

cr,yptoJ.osic asenc.r 1n Prtmce; (b) there~ be, u b~are, acne looel• 

coUa'ba2'6t1cm. eacms the Anq, lfaTJ', Col.mies an4. Iuter1ar; (c) the 

J'on1su M1Di•'tr7 •till pretera to So it• own W&7" 

7 

ARMED FORCES SECURITY AGENCY 

T()P SEGRE'F ACORN