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CONFIDi: NTiAL' 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 12-16-2013 pursuant to E. 0. 135213 

~ ' . ' L L 

_. __ - - _'.!;,-~- ... ,,r.. 

.. 
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REF ID:A62864~ •. • --

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&(! ,A'J Jo:G .. 

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~~~~-~-------_~-=---~-=--=---=--=-----~--~~ __ , _____ _J 

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/ 

e REF ID:A62864. 

THE DFLOENCE OF C-POWER * ON HISTORY. 

LECTURE NO. 3 

MAKING THE MOST OF A CRXP.rOLOOIC OPPOR'lVNIT?. 

PART l. - IU'mODUCTIOI 

The Walter Cronfbite Telev1•10A Stary Bnt1t1ad 

"The Secret Mes&!fSe that Pl.UQg!d America i.D.to Warf" -

011e of tbe e12iaodes ot his "lou are 'l'bere!" Series 

;presented over the Columbia Broe4caeting Syatem '1'V network 

on 

23 October 1955; repeated on 4 August 1957. 

It's a. nice thing to solve an enem;y•a cryptosystem and as o. result glean 

inf'Qr'm&tion which 1n pretty nearly all cases is indubitably authentic because it 

comes right out of the horse •s mouth; ~-it y;ou can •t use-~~ information v~~h~~'!i ' 

for h!_etari~a.l purpoae~t In other words, it'• one thillg to!!!:!!, CCIWiT--am another, 

to ue it ;e'Operll, that is ao as to continue to receive the bleeai.Dp which flow 

<!.-1.>-' t; ..... '· ' /9 

tram ;your -.JR;e-astuteneea &Dd good security. Another way at puttillg the 11atter 

,. 

I •m iOi.ns to diacusa at some length today is to aay tbat 1D the C<»WiT business we 

try our but to eat our cake and still have it; and we try thia neat trick pretty 

nearly every day. Our score basn •t been too bad &Dd JlOW' we 're soin& to observe 

* "C-power" = Cryptologic power. 
' 

.(,.. '\. "\ 

' ' ' 

v a.n excellent. case illustrat"'ive of 1illes.e- ·tvo phenomena which a.re so often .hard 

f' • 

to Join iD an enduri.D6 c1'1Ptolog1c llm"l'iage, V!J\1 usiDg COML-qtf to its utmost 

' - e.dVeAtage and at the same time protectiDg it ao aa J;lOt to drJ it up at its source. 

arouses much interest these Upj 1D tact, I doubt tbat the name means ~hing 

. , t 

to a great J1BD7 of 7CJU· Yet, this gentlemen, ot whom I. find it d.tff'icult to sq 

' 

"1D8i1 his soul.' rest 1D.. peace", was the German Minister of Foreign AffairG ill Berlin ' -

in the 1'!&r6 1914-1917, a diplomat whose unima{jlna.tive· C:-cmduct of Gerlll$D fOJ."eiga 

' . affairs ill the t.brec critical yeus I •ve mentiOXled constituted a fine example , 

of b0t1 .i:iot '\iO oake fioiends a.Dd. ini'lue&lce people; in fact, it can and baa been aa14 

by many h1Gtoria.Ds that Herr Zimmermann's culminattne caper in a career ot 

cl'Ul!ISinesc brought the United States ot Amer1-ca into World War I as an cctive 

bel~gerent on tte aide/ tba.t we.a wrong tor his country, that is, on the aide of 

J the Allies; ant: this, uithil'l ~ J!lOXlth after what he did became known to ti.e Amer1caDS. 

- ' • • ... _._ • • • . r \ • '- " If:'.• , • • • ~... ~ .. .1\ ...,.J ... ~~i~ ~"·' .. ~ 

~ 

The military/\. could have eas117 been thrown to the other side--durins the critical 

--- -.. monthS of the yeo.r 1916--bad 1

the Germne- anc1 ;particularl)r Zimmermann~ been more I I \ I 

~ o;ll 

, 1-ho~ ... of!rl.. -t .. i:. .... r ' ~, .. 

astute. I lived through that period and I know from tt1:at.-l'Jand experience that 
REF ID:A6286~ 

there were sever.al occasions when.it wouldn't have taken much to tip the balance 

, in favor of our Jo11'11Dg Germany. The consequences ot such an. event can :bardl)r ' I 

be ga1189d; it would be an underota~enent to say that the course of bistor7 could 

:bave been changed in a most sllectacular ma.rmer. ,•,,. r -

What did Herr Z:llilmerma.n:i do .or :fail to do to merit so strOD6 a.statement as - •, 

the one I •ve just made'l What did he do or fail to do that-tipped the balance 

suddenly in favor of Bri tain1 What he did was to se:ad a telegrom on 16 January l9l 7 ·-

- to the Geriilm Ambassador in Washington with inatructicms to f orwa.rd 1 ts contents 

to the German Minister in Mexico. ,The tele8J:'a.m was in a German foreign office 

" c~e and 1t vo.s intercepted and solved by the British crypt~ic unit in-

'. 

London. What Paerr'Zimr:lermarm 'tailed to do was, first, to realize how violent 

the American rccction .might be if they learned tbe contents of bis message before 

. -::--- what he proposed in it could be brought to pass; aud.., secondly, to see to_ it ,that 

' 

the cryptosystcm tbB.t bad to be used to encrypt his message was tecbnicel.J.¥ sound 

enough to protect--its contents asaillst crypte.na.l.yais end -premature disclosure. 

In the aftermath of the diacovery of hie diploma.tic dumbness ~e dtd and failed to 

do SQJDethiDB else in connection with his now famous message--but of that, mare later. 

In order to prepare a proper b:?.ckground for the Zimi:Jermmi Telegrem of 

16 Januazoy 1917--:tha.t •e what it •s col.led in hiotory--I 'trill give a brief pictws 

-3~ 
REF ID:A6286t 

time the telegram. was aent. 

B:r 1914 England -4 'beca. &o dependent o.a 1ea-barm W,part1 tbat lier people 

couJAn•t live, let alone wage war, tor mare tbaD tour ar five weeka after her 

sea-route• were broken. Keeping tbese route• open vas theretare tbe principal 

talk of the Britiab N&VJ'· On the otber hand, her principal enem;y, Qerma.l.q, vu 

not dependent on sea-borne imparts, so tbat tbe Britiab Navy•e hiatar1c f'\IDCticm 

ot arresting a.n.ene:rq•s aea-b.orne trade lapsed after OerlBD shippiDg bad touml 

refuge in neutral parts. 

There were, thent the British Grand Fleet and ber hardl.7 mu.ch interior 

protagonist, the German Bish Seu Fleet .. both glaring at each othei• at a di•tanc•, J 

am, although the Grand Pleet vaa becoming 1.Jllpa.tient and apo1~ tor a fisbt, 

the Germans didn't dare risk their fleet 1Jl mJar battle. 'l'bey contined their 

attacks to sporadic far8.J'B by fast units an4 to minel.qing. 

German bopeo of quick victcr:r were shattered when the heroic resistance ot 

EnCLiabmen a.ml Fre.acbmen 1n trench warfare 1n France 'broapt the vc to a •talenate. With each pa.aaiDg J1C11th it became clear' 'that tMre oCNl.4 be no GermD 

victory unleas British overa-.a trade wu cut ott. .._. Sa 191S1 1D. certain 

German circles, there were thoee who had vbat appeared to be a good idea, viz., 
• REF ID:A6286 • 

. 

to give highest priorit7 to bu1l41Qg aubmariues am\ use them to 4e•trOJ :British 

ud, it necessary, all other 1h1Pl?iJll to tlae British l1l!•· ID abort, tlle•• 

people tboalht that the auccuaea ot the Oeran ...U au1-r1De flotilla ot 19llt. 

pointed the way out without r1ak1.Dc their Gerlal1 Higb Seu F1eet. :But tbe time 

was not 19t ripe tar aucb viol.eat •asure1. 

'1'be time wu11•t ripe because ciTilized rules ot maritime warfare reqW.red 

tbat no merchant •hip be sunk without warningJ tim vu to be given tor '\be 

crew to take to lite boa.ta • These rules vere beiDg reapected b¥ both beUiprenta 

but tor the Germns this fleverel.J' reduced the destructiTe power ot their submarine• 

&D4 trcm tim to time their col'M!IS.Uders ci~r...er OJ:. tD.eir .:JWD initiative ignored ar 

they were ordered to ilf'Ol"e them. Tbat 1.hia waa true especially in the cue ot 

the :British 1:1e1•chantmeut goes al.moGt lrithout sayillg. But there were bound to be 

mistakes and a0111et:lmes the shipe of neutrals were al.llo aunk, 'tTith the result that 

tbe German unrestricted au'bm:l."inc w.rfare, aa it CUl8 to be called, br."ousht a 

wave ot resentment ap:l.mt tbe Gerr.ia.o. Gover.nment. Jluat bitter aad acrimcmioua 

note• -were sen" to that aanrmmnt, espec1all.¥ b7 our Government, when OU'l' 1b11>9 

were aUDk aml •Plcious excuse• were g1"Ven tar aw:h a1.Dk1Xlp. Oerzna.D3 dec:l4e4 

that 1t coW.dn't pay tbe price ot \1Dl"eatr1cte4 aumariu warf&n1 iD the fora of 

-5-
REF ID:A628§.t. 

• 

universal ccmdeumation, and soon gave up tbe practice. But as regards American 

abipa there continued to be trouble aDd American au:tagOl11sm vu beilhtemad 'b7 

the d.1acovery ot plate am sabotage activities of Ger-.n agent• 1D .Amrica. 

'l'he powerful German subma.riDB of"teDGive in 1916, even though UD1"e•tr1cte41 IOOD 

began to take a dreadful turn tor the British. Soon the daily toll at allippirlg 

loaaes 'became so beav;r that it begau to be obvioua that Wlleas sOI:J.e new tide aet 

in·-or unl.ess the United States ot America. ~culd be drawn :lJlto tbe var on. the 

Allied side-- there could be onl7 oue end to the var, and that end would cone 

soon. 

maetery over the German sub1aari11ea,; but this, it '1-TB.S recognized, would be & aiov, 

a very slew, process. Second, to try not. to .irrlta.te or utagouize tbe United 

States, o.l1d certainly not to exasperate Amer:r.r.~ aa were the Gemma. The hope 

was, ot course 1 that the Germans vould sooner or later 1 the sooner the better 1 

goa4 ua into Jolnins the var agatnet hrs A¥• The Britiah \.ere fortUD&te 1D both 

re1pects. ?t. tu:uea ou.t that thaaka to the trememous exert:'..onu o'f their •hip· 

bUilAera, acientiate, am aailors, mastery over the 1ubma.r1nes w.-as atto.ined, but 

-6-
REF ID:A6286. 

that didn't come until early ill 19J.B. With this pbue ot the Briti1h pr'Oblem 

a.a I've Juat stated it, we shall not concern ourselves tocla.7· It 1• v1th the 

other pb&se at it tbat J11;f talk will deal. 

Let •e see how the Gerana behaved so as to outrace llHl"l.1' all American1 &Dd 

practically force President Wilaon to aak Congress to declare war on them. 

We know from auto'biogr-.phiea of certain peraom such u ll1nd.enbur1 aD4 

Ludendorff that an important question began to be 411cua1ed within tbe Geran 

High Command in August 1916. The question ws vl:letber or zaot to rellum 

unrestricted submriDe warfare. In December Ludemortt made a tour ot the 

entire front and returned protoumly pessimistic. Radical steps would ha"f'e 

to be taken~ And on 9 Januar7 1917 Emperor Wilhelm beld a council. ot war at 

•lees. The N&V"J practicall.7 guaranteed the succeaa ot UDreatricted aullnarim 

warfare. The Military Biah CCllllland joined in urstog its adoption am\ tbe 

-7-
,e REF ID:A62864 e 

I 

'· 

aa4 it 4icln' i; iQ ii!t1'1 case. 

· 1-t '-::i.u c.•.L'I;; M:!.tui-XL tor lJritain to .h¥ tbnt lTI! lrould ~: .~:>:!.:I her sn -the 

... '.. 'r /\•' U 1 

I ! I 

we- aga~t ~ .. ::.....:.Jf, but, sa.4 to rmy;t:e he1d back. To~ or.1 us cur ;tco1t1cm l\ "' \ 

was qld.te hwn-Hio.tiDS because it '188 elem: tba.t ~~ verc um.bl~ to e;~e om: a'"'D 

' 

merchantam qo :;l"o'teettcm., trlm.tcver, that :t.a, ~ .. aeeuad t?J.at we- 3Uat -eouHn •ts I 

..a ... 
... 

REF ID:A6281 

thing he hadn't promised was to keep our mercbantmn sailing on the high aeaa 

where they had' every right to be. Bence, after the Germa. declaratioa at 

unrestricted su"tqar ~--c warfare there wa.a nothing our shiPll cCNld do except 

keep within American barbor1; they were af'raid to leave because tbey woul.4 

certa.iDJ.y become helpless victims ot submarine torpe4oee--w1th larp lo.••• 1D. 

lite to be expected. This situation was unbearable but, as I've •a14, Prea14ent 

Wilson was determined to keep ua out of var--juat aa the Scan41m..wi&D and certain 

other countries in Europe were keeping out ot 1 t. 

On the whole, our 1ym,pa.thiea were with the Allies but certain ad41t10Dal 

:tactaro were involved. iD the eituation. For a large part ot the United Statea, 

ee~cie.11.y the Middle and Par West, the war in Europe va.s thousands ot mtlea 

across tho Atlantic. It might aa well have been on another plo.net so far as 

the7 ,.Jere couce~ed. Moreover, the teelinp at a larp Germau-American population 

bad to be tr.Jten into account, especially when Briti•b high-handed action, every 

once in a Phile, severely prejudiced their cue. Still, the President held 

back. One witer, commenting on Preaideut Wilson's conduct, sai4 that he 

11wo.a hesitating on t~ brink of war, reluctant to plunge into it, clinging painfully to the idea of •trict neutralit7 which seemed to be al.Jlloat a part of his 

-9-
REF ID:A628' 

rel:lgion." 

:But maybe a bit ot politics sot m1xecl up with tbe rel!a10n becauae, aa 

same of you ~ remember, the Democratic alopn tor Prea14eut. Wilson's campaip 

tor a second term was: •be kept us out of war". And let'a not target the other 

famous explanation he gave for keeping out ot wm': hi• statement that •there 

ia 1ucb a thing u 'beiDS too proud to f'ipt!" I won't tey to dete:nd that. 

After severing diploma.tic relations with German7 a0Mth1.Dg bad to be done, 

at course, to try to give our merchant ships som protectiOD and the quaetlon 

ot arming them to protect themaelves was discussed. The idea was to let the ?la'Y7 

provide guns and trained iwmer• to handle them, aD4 cm 26 PebrU&ey', .President 

Wilson addressed Congress in ~oint session to edvocate tbat course ot action. A 

bill known as the Armed Ship Bill we.a introduced in both fiogea ot Ccmgreea, and 

on l March it passed the Rouse by a vote or 493 to 13. In the Senate it wu 

leas fortunate; :it became the subJect of acr1JllOD:ious debate which tiaally developed 

-lrtJ .. 
• REF ID:A62864 • 

into a filibuster l.ed by Se.Datar La li'ollette al Wiaccmain. The tilibwlter was 

auccesstul &Dd succeeded iD prcventin(;; :passage ot tbe blll WilaOQ wated. But 

tbe Preaident ·atill bad a wa:r open to him to do vbat be visbed 4one·-!rl.• •. - ' 

constitutional powers to direct the Ii&\7 to furllisb tbe guns and ;uxmtra tar 

American •hips tl'lat bac1 to pa.os throlJGb the German-declared war zonea • "While 

the Armed Jhi9 Bill wa under discuss:LOJl in COIJ&ress another ~vent occurred 

~i<:b ~usecl the {;l:eatest exci tea;:ut tbrou&}lout the country aQ4 arouae4 the 

peop1e of tbc U.d.ted States even mare," Secretary at State I.ans:tng wrote, "tlllm 

the annoWlCc~ ~olic)" or 1ub:ma.ri.ae ruthlessness.• l-lho.t ~a3 this event? It vaa 

. f-..:..t ft~~""- t·-~·.t. 

tbe ()Df: Which involved Hhct J;~ •aai na cryptologic ~tunity" tit the title ) /\ 

.• 

ot '111¥ taJ..k, It wu an event vbicb almost. OYerDiabt it seema changed the picture 

event aDCl.'the , 

enti?'ely. ~:mt was the/oppartunityf It waa the ditclosure of tbe interceptica 

and solution by the '.British at the Zimermann Telearam. 

Bow, hi.;;·i;;or~ ·.may disaaree ae te> wh;y; the U::rl.ted States became a 'bell!&m'•Dt 

111 Warld t'ar I; E..-veii· aane of tbem1 etill believe we vent in cu the· vrq aide. 

&D4 •olut1on at the z1~ Telesram,alll the lll'1lliaQ D1' 1D which tU British .. ; 

ue4 it, tbat 'broupt us into the var Jut in tlie nick of time, aza4 oa. t1:ae ript 

... u. 
REF ID:A62864 

• .. e 

. I 

~-~ . •ide--the aide at tbe Allie•. Aa4 because the u!li.' ~ aD4 still 1• the lea41Dg 

p-er in the Western llemiaphere, the Zimmermann telegram helped to briza& Arpzitim, 

»oliva, !raz11, Cuba, amt Panama into the Allied ca11p. There could. DOW be no 

doubt whatever as to tbe outcome ot the war. 

The \rhole episode, replete With drama, forms one ot tbe moa' dramatic ot tm 

biatorical episodes recounted by television on Walter Croakh1te '• "You are 'l.'Mre ! " 

aeries. Some of you ~ have seen it vhen the :program wu presented. "11ve" OMl' 

'WTOP-'W; some at you nay bave seen 1t as recorded cm motion pict\ll"e tilm, a 

cow ot which ts ~'IlE"d by NSA an4 which I've borrowed f'roa the Office ot Tra1D11\I. 

That sound-track film we nov are about to aee nnd hear. I'd like to add tbat the 

Zi.llnermrum Telegram ot 16 J&nua?'7 1917 wu the subject oi' a radiu bl·oadcut b7 

the l3r1t1eb ~roadcast1ng Corporation u recently ae on 26 Mll.7 l~. I •m 

trr_ne to get a 'transcript ot tbat brodeaat. I •ntion thie to shOll you tll&t 

' ' 

tbe eubject "t-3, still quite s. live one 'toc!q--more tbal1 48 years later I 

Now lell's have Walter Cronkbite•a film. After that. I'll take up the back· 

gL"ound and detailed account c..f' thia spectacular an4 fatef'ul cryptologic epiaod.e 

ot World 1To.r I. 

******** ........ 

-JJ!-
i 

. 

I• 

~ 

e 

• 

, . toll<Md tbe 41aclos'la'e ot its contents.,~-· eaae:Weei ri9·~ ... ·-.. 

. Just before the film at"1"ted I saici I'd go into the backlz"ouod al tbis 

. episode and give you a detailed account of thia, the mo&t spectacular ~ fateful 

. ,. ~r-~··,.J....' ':!&'"~~ .. 

sillgle u,ptolopci episode ot World War I, or of World War ~I, for that "DBtter. 

I thiDl:. tlJa·i; an epi:;;cxie ot such 1m.p0l'ta.nce in cry.PtOloS1C histor1 wmTaDta 

caretul study b1' cryptologists as well as h1stori&D3. Ili !a c. story replete 

with lessons on the disastrouD ccmsequence£J of trealmess in "C-pouer", as well 

a1 on 1bc oppcrtun1ties atton4ant upon strength in "C-pu..-er". 

"-:' The ta ti Is·, t "V;.''.*MS •• Z1mmermann Telegram vu sent on 16 .• 

•• J: •••• -1917, its decrntf:d plain text vaa publiabed on March lat, am within a little- . . 

over one month a."'ter publf.co.t1on)on April 6th, we declared wnr· mi Ge1"1!BD1'. 

~corB ine to practic;:e.117 all histarfa\na there seems to be 1'.ttle d011bt that we 

entered. tbe war when we did because ot tbe Zimmel"IBml 'ielegram. Perhaps we ta - -.. .. .. I 

• • ~ .... "UC! ::;~" .l, 

tbe cr1J.)tolo51c ,:f'ield eboul.d be a bit mare specific aa4 eay that we entered.,.... ' A 

.&<-cQ..u.4•?-,.., . J 

reauaq-,~ •tile ·•e 06°1Jait1J-.:~raf' German obtuseness ~D affairs cl:Lplomatic 

. ~ naivete in a.ttaira crntologi':} and, we- aileuW: acl.af'""tllat-"'W -eMeire4. iaioo..tt, 

.ea the .other ~~ because ot British ututeneaa ill affairs diplOlll&t11 a.ml/ 

tw~ ¥~··\,\lo'""" ·l~ ... , ~ •-.;:J>Gemme -« "Mlftr br!.111.ance in attaira crntolQ6ic. Or, should these" 

9 reaacma be ill'terchaneed 1D their arcler. I '11 let YG'l be tbe .judges • .., i 3' .. 
The Cronkhite 

dtacloaing the contents at the Zimmermnn Telegram bad on CoDgl"eBB. It vu cmq 

to be expected that question and doubt should be rataecl u to ita autbenticlt7. 

'!he mrvapapera were tull ot denunaiationa 8114 diacuaiona of wbat people repr4e4 

at ft.rat a cmplete hoax, a patent fraud. In tbe Congressional Record tbe deba'te 

!eleP'•i vbtch ha4 so tar noth1Dg to back 1 t exceat the word ot the Waah1J!ltoa 

CarreaJ!Ol!lent at the Aaaaciated Presa, tor 1 mrk rou, the diacloaure bad !2!, be• 

made OD the authoritJ ot the Gtate Department at alll Strange as 1t lm1' aeem, 

1\ ba4 appeared merely as an Associated Press dispatch which was wicleq diatri'buted aPl81"eDtl.7 upm its own reaponslb111ty. You will recall tbia point 

~ SD tbe Cronkhite film~ ~ ~ '\~ /INZ. ~~Jt ~ 1--::a J.J.h. ~* -K-- -------= - - - 1 

· 7 ... , r Fa the 4e1 ...... between the date the Zimmermann Tele-am was sent, ·-. "--;-~?.1 _.;_~ :. ' -.; -fl Ir ' ~ ' 1 1/ .!II" ~.1 

J.6 Januar7 19171 and the elate its contents were coanmicated to the Americu. 

------

exp.la.Dat1oa. Be aa14 ar rather hinted that tbe atOl':J vaa beld be.ck until tbe 

Clermau chutp4 their code. Then tbe Zilmmrmlm Telegram coulcl be publ1abl4 

without harm to Brittab 1Dtelligence. Well, let's see. tt•1>1111 potab :p&ZbaJll" -1'1' .. . - .. ~_ .. -- ...... 
REF ID:A62864 

• . ,,. 

~ • .; I.et 1& 11~ the CUl"taiD that for so DJ.Jr3 19a.rs abroud.e4 the Zimmer.mi 

'relegrm in a tigbt veil of secrecy. Let's beaiD v1th a br1ef stary about l:aov 

the British cryptologic arpuization sot atal'ted. I sboulcl tell 7ou tbat 

accordi.Dg to tbe historical accounts, am I know they're true, the Br1t1ah 

Government ba4 no crJPtanal)'tic arga.utzation 1D beiQS vheD W'Ol"ld War I broke 

out. Oh, ;yes! I know there had previous~ been a lOD& long tra41t1on ot code 

aDCl cipher solving by British Intelligence agencies--and th.ta, too, is true. 

But tl:lat •s anotbm' st0?7 and I clon•t wiab to 10 into it at this time. AU I 

vut to aq at this mment ia tbat there waa !2 c~lc orpuiza.tion in 

be1D& in the British Government when Wal" came :1Jl 191la.--.1uat aa there was no 

..,,... ott1c1al c:rn>tol.0&1-c apnc:J in being 1D Washington. 'ilhen ve entered World War I 

- aa a 'belligel'ent ill April 1917. ID both caaea tbere ba4 to 'be 1mp:ov1aat10D•• 

l6 

\ 
' I 

I ' 

REF ID:A62864 • ~ 

w1th amateurs tak.inl the leading roles, not protesa1cmal.s. Let me read trca 

I 

a letter dated~.tbi'a wel.l~August 23, 1958, written to me b7 Cmr. A. G. 

Denniston, ~rho was for a number ot years before World "War II am tor a couple 

I 

IL 

\ 

amateurs with a good knowledp of German and. !!2 experience of cyphers 

collected by Sir A. Ewing in August 1914 to study the vast amount of W/I 

mte~ial whlch was -coming int~ ~he Admiral.t~ Within a few weeks .Lqaval nateria.l 

ua.s sorted ot;t and the Flret Lord (Churchill) instructed us to make a 

profoUDd study ot the mind and methods ot the German Admiralty! 

""'-" ... _,,: l i.) "' 

"We ~ved thia out aucceaafully and the sta.f't grew am by the middle f 

ot 1915 we began to aeek fl"eah f'ielda where ve coul.4 tackle tbe Ge:rana. l 

But •e all had to' lea.Tu the technical side ot our Job! No easy work even 

far enthus :!.as tic amteUJ's • Out ot that small bod7 and a similar i,ariy in 

'the War Office studying the German Army, ..a·JOU kDov u well or better 

tban I vba.t baa &l"OWD up from tb.ese aeeQ.linp!" 1..---

_ .. Cmir Denniston'• •ntion of Sir Alfred Ewing require• a bit ot elaboration. 

You'll find a iOod deal ot information about him 1n a book by h11 son, publ11hed 

-17-
REF ID:A62864 • 

ill 19391 after some clearance bout• With the autboritiee. 'l'he book i• entitled 

The Man at Room 4rh '?he Life ot Sir Alrred Ewig (HutchiAaon •Co., Loa4m, 1939). 

Be's mentioned in several other books, and, in particul&'r, a book published 

in l.955 by Mmiral S:lr William Jamea) entitled Eze• of tbe Navz;devotes a good 

deal of spe.ce to t.he iert pl~J'!d by Ewing in World War I. Let me quote trcm 

that book: 

1

'Ylben Ball became Director of Intelligence iD Novembet- 1914 he 'f'oUD4, 

to his surpri&e, that a a-11 body Of picked men uader the direction ot 

Sir Al.tred Ewing WE-re at vork on intercepted German naval virelesa sipe.J• 

and, baving discovered tbe method or cyphering,, were supplying the Operationa 

Division With 1nf'ormat1oo about the iaovemeu.t• ot tbe German Fleet. Thia 

work had been kept so secret that on1y a few Officers ln the Ad~iralty an4 

no offi.t•PrR outside the Admiralt7 knew tbat aisnaJ.s were being 1.Dterceptecl, 

let alone that they were beilll read." 

Afte'l' a few paragraphs on codes and ciphers, there follawl thjpfpa.ragraphj; 

"'l'hough the work of l.'wicg•a a.U 'bal:ld. had been kept so secret, all 

tbc Great Powers, 'Tiith the exception ot ourselves, maintained a department 

tar the decyphering at toreign codes in tbe1r peace-t'me cr1anizat1on, 

tbe tiusslan and French departments beU. especial.ly' efficient. 

"The outbreak at war :tovnd our N&'91' tull.7 mobilized and at its war 

bases ~t a ,l)e&k or battle eff1c1enc7, 'but our naval intelligence aertice, 

on ~.l,foh ac ruuch i1ould depend, w::; not so vell prepared. 

"Our Intellipnce De:partmnt ha4 8.IB&Bed veey useful inf'ormation abou'\ 

Germany•.s war potential, but tbe p."oblem of haw to keep watch on the Oerm1.11 

fl.ett had not been 1tudi.ed. 

"Ever aince the advent ot l&rp minetielda am the sub-.rine 1t ba4 

been obvious tbat the centuriea-ol4 method at keeping ·watch on. the enemr•a 

Fleet by look-out veHela crubing ott the enelllJ'• ports WM no loapr 

possible. That some ot 1;he ••n1or ott1cere bad uot imbibed this evident tact 

am were still living 1n the put vu apparent when tbe cruisers Jlope, 

Cressy, and Abouk1r, crui•in& •lawlJ "» aD4 down a patrol line by Mmiralty 

orders, were all sWJJt by one aubma.rim." 

-18-
e REF ID:A6286~ 

* * * • * * * * * * * • ** 

"With the exception ot Evine, who bad at one time been l.lltereste4 

in cyphers, not one or the pioneers, or tor that matter not one of tbe men 

and vomn who Joined them later, bad any previoua knowledge or codes, 

c;ypbers, or wireless procedure. 

"':Che Admiralty eli8.f'f first wa;rked o.n messasea from a. high-power 

German statiO!i to stations in the Germall colonies, aud though, with the 

be].;» ~ Mr. Bradf leld of the Marconi COiilpa.:.iy 1 code a igua.l::. were i'1cntified 

am. cocle-books of German commercial. firms were collected and studied, no 

real pl"ogress was ma4e for several weeks. 

"i..feamrh!le the War Office staff were attempti.ng to aua.J.yse the 

••sages amt sepa.ra"'e mlJ.1.a.r;f messages frau thOfie in naval code. About 

t.lle midJle oi.' ~eJ?~~n:.~ the lre.l.lcb f.P.Ve oui· G • .l.Q. the key of the ~litar7 

chJherl;'l and valuable lnf'ori.atioa VIE.LS soou being passed to the Arm:y c:"""Nlnd." 

* ~ .... * *'* * * * * /* ... * * * r _,, " '-..... /' / ~"" , Di.rector _f#...l'In.'!;ellige~Q. .&~ovember _,,.4the .:;m&l.J.../ 

ioneers w su11.PlY.iDf>-tl1e Ope,,...tiy&G D.J.vi~ lT"l~~ G~ :i.~ll.lGeJMDll!l:n ~ et, btl( it had so ,ft1.r been ent11'_fy a pri"41ie 

en rpris eff t, and the·~•Jla4 Ol"p&l.i.tatidu,did noYcO&lil, \!:lClQT q. 

ect::r 01 , "& Lord." " " ~ 

A radio receiving station specifica.J.ly tor interceptiDg ene~ .i.'.'adio signal.a 

was set up--by amateurs, too, but •1e won•t go into that--ancl this first •t&tion 

was eventually expauded illto 14 stat!ons iu the Dritish Isles. Later three 

overseas sta.t10'.is 'ifere estaplishe4. 

"A stream ot meaaagea on tbe l<M!l' naval wave-leDgtb wo.s now arriviD& 

in l:.\d.ng's room, a.Dd the re1earcb "orke1·a ~ their first stroke of :f'ortune -wL~n u GerliJLW .der::antile C.!.~-buo1. a.i.·:;.•ived f.rlA'tl Austi•a.lfo.. It bad been 

taken from a German merchant vesael at the outbreak at l>"e.r 1 and had been 

sent b7 the quicJr.eat route to the Admi:ra.l.ty. It waG the book uaed by 

Genran outpost vessels o.nd airships. 

"In the middle ot October the;r bad another ·~·oke uf fortune. On 

Aue.vat 2f.1 the Germaa light cruiaer lfagdeburg ho.d been destroy3d by RuauiaD 

ships 1D tbe Gulf ot F1Qland. A few days later the body of a GeraA 

sipLlman was washed uhore, aDd. clasped iu his arms was a copy of the 

Gennc.-:.n J.;aval ~isnaJ.-book. T".ne Ilu.JtilD.ll~ reaJ.1~illg _:the Value of tbiB book 

to the British naval authorities, sent it to En.gland, where it arrived on 

October J.3. 

-19-
REF ID:A62864 

• • t ' 

"Fl.Ht Pa)'JBater Rotter, the principal. Germa expert 1.11 '1w Illtellipnce 

Diviaion., now joined Ewing's ataf'f', and &ppl.ied. himelt to diacOYeriD& the 

method ot cJ]\beriD& tbe i1"0\1P9 in the book. With bis •ftl lmowle4p to help 

him to gueaa the posaible purport at the signals, Rotter, 'bJ' a 'brill.iut 

piece ot deduction, produced tDI Jcey. It vaa a •W.titutiau table (a • r, 

b • b, etc.) 1 an4 at that time in force t'1l" three J1C111tha. Later on 1 t ,,,.. 

ebauaed every week, and atill later every tveJlt7..f'our hours. The time bad 

c~ tor tlle •n workiDg at the War Office to return to the £dmir<y; there 

vu llOW' llm"e tban enough work tor all the men EviD& ba4 at his diapoa&l. 

"Wben Ball became Director at .Intellipnce 1.11 •CJYUlber, the small 'ball4 

at pioneers vere suppl.yin& the Opera\iODS Division vith some intellipuce 

at the GerMD J'leet, but it ha4 ao tar t.. entir•l.7 a private enterpriae 

effort, and the anm.ll orpnization did not c~ \IDller azq Director or Sea 

Lord." 

':;v,<V ~ uf ... , .... \.- A(.' ~'t.?l.t .J<, _,,~ ;»-~t ·. ~liev. ..J.*-~ ~ EW'1Dg • s work tor a n'Ullber ot month& was entirel.1' & )lt'ivate 

enterprise eftOl't. It is not clear whether he and hi• a-.U band or a:mteura 

liJ 

were pa.id ... -! mu.at aaaume they were, somehow or otber- Eving • s small orpnization 

" 

di4 not cane uodel' any Director or Sea Lard. Thia 1ituation wu cMnpd vben 

Ewing'• group became a section at Naval. Intelligence uader tM ""1"....U 41rection zi"j" 

to be the technical head ot tbe group until be becam CMm:ellor ot BliDburgh 

Uni'ffl'sity "two year1 later. 

Ew1Da and hi• amll ta.- were Ulliversity men·-not naval o:tticeras u a 

reault their tX'anslationa ot Oermn naval a1pel• were atre.nge tbinp in the 

.,... at the very ff!V mu in "tbe N&Tal Operationa Statt to whom the t.raalations 
REF ID:A62864 

vent. And, ot courae, the gifted uateur ~ta became the butt at Jokes 

aa4 it was a loog time befare Mmiral Ball was able to brealc clown tbe preJwlice 

against tbeir vark. The amusing thiDg to note is that Ball had assigned a B&V7 

Captain to put the traDSlatiou into pl"oper 11aftl la.Dguage--but that officer 

waan•t permitted to have accesa to the rom where the ~ts worked or 

to have 8.f!7 personal contact with them until 6 November 19J.4, when he not only 

was allowed in Room >.1 but became Hall's representative 1D charge of the staff 

ot C%'J'PtoSl"&phers • It is also remilliacent ot certain earJ.7 days 1D tbe history 

ot our own cr~ic organization to learn that for a good m.D1' months one 

and ~one person was permitted to receive the translations--the Chief at statt, 

to wham the)' were personaJ17 banded in a locked book! But DOW' it's high time 

I got down to the real. crJPtiologic details ot the ZimmermaDD 'relegt"aa, details 

which bad been complet~ shrouded 1n m:,rater;y tor almost ten years before the 

veil of aecrec7 was litte4 a bit b7 a stm7 in the NOYember issue ot a now tleflmct 

Amrican -.p.zine callecl World •a Work 1D which was publiabecl the timl. installmnt ot a book 'b7 JJurtoD J. Hemrick entitl.ed The Lite and Letters at Walter JI. 

lap. I thiDk Walter Crcmkhite 1s &tal'J'·•e4 a lot at 1Dtor-.t1m tbat 

.... M~~~~J'4_..:....-

appeare4 tint 1D ~· Bemlric~ account' A Jal :Ii& ~~!?'* #2~ ~ •-..: 

~~~;:~::~~ - ~ 
' 

--

f. 

.. 

REF ID:A62864 

Ve shall not cODCern ourselves at the moment with the atepl taken 'bJ' 

President Wilson and Secret&r7 LansiJll, culm1nAting in the publication by the 

Associated Press at the text ot the Zimmermmm Telegram. Our attention vill be 

concentrated f'irat upon the minute details at the mnner in vbicb the mssage 

"The manner 1n which the British had acquired this message is 

disclosed 1l1 Page's telegram. It was 'bought• in Mexico. That is, the 

British secret service had obtained it evidently from some approachable 

person 1n the Mexican capital--a practice which, it appears :tram Page's 

communication, had been goiDg on tor acme time. An interesting additional 

f'act is that this is not the only Way" in vhich the British obtainecl this 

priceless treasure. The German Government was so determiDed to make 

this Mexican alliance that it did not depe:ml upon a single route tor 

transmitting the Zimmermaml message to Von Eckhardt. It dispatched it 1n 

several other ways. Por one it used the wireless route f'rom :Nauen, Germny, 

'to la;yville, Long Island. 

"In the early' 4aya at the var, the American Government prohibited the 

Ull"! ot this S&1Ville l1De except under American supervision; how little 

this prohibition interfered with the Germans is shown by the use they m.de 

at the Long Isla.ad station f'ar this, the most f'atef'ul. message sent to 

America during the var. • • • • • • • • • • • "In the British Admiralty 

tbiS Nauen-Sayville thoroughtare was known as the main line; it was the 

meet direct and consequently' the one most used for sending Germn dispatches 

to the United States," 

Hendrick cites no autharit7 for the statement tbat the Zimmermaml 'leleP"am 

waa transmitted by radio from lfauen to Sartille• There is r;ery good reason to 

4oa'bt it. = 

A tw hours after outbreak ot var the British, who've alW&Jll recopize4 

- the imp:rtaDce ot control ot comrmmtcation cha.DDels as well as sea lanes took 

imlle41ate 1teps to isolate CktrmD7 from the rest ot the Warl4 that lq ~ tbe 

-25-
REF ID:A62864 

a'~. lftaaae ftN tOR 1a arter: 

(1) »7 nl1o trca lauen, Clln&D;J1 '° SQTili., Loac Ial&DI, ..,, tcrk, 

4ap ot ita ue. l'ou. ... , ta.~ trca 8'\ookbol• to aanoe A1rM p.11e4 

Deatatoa. tol4 •, u •tm sw.11.lh BO\JDla'bout.• 

t.fta1e cable alao 'toGCMcl Incl tab 1011. Thia -.a a Tflr7 mual cbennel tor tm 
REF ID:A62864 

llOW' a1 * e t:M lua't •*ll:M.. ~ use ot the radio channel trcm l'lauen to 

Sa.JYUle or 'hckerton~wu probibitecl except wder American superviaicm 

Co-. lli~ -""';t ~__. ~ C~ am I ,.ur-.1 ii tc:a:ao that the supervision 12mr ' I •s aa:1 LS ca' l 't111 was 

~--~~ \. \ ... "'rl "I..,. 

~ Q-4 '-'~ (J..,JJ ~Q.M.. I have very care~ searched every- a.vailable recar~and have f'OUDd not 

the s11gh~at evidence that this cha.Dnel was actlBlly used tar the ZimmermDn 

accmata... It you •re interested iD learniDg Just hov the aupervieicm vu 

exercisa4 I auaeat you st~ this brochure ou the ZiDlllermDD Te1egram (pagea 

7 am 8). I think you'll agree that great care wu takeD 'b7 the a.utharities 

who ha4 the reaponaibilit7 at seeing to it tbat we lived up to our 1Dtermt10Dal 

oblipticms ua4er strict neutra.lit7. 

-21-
REF ID:A62864 

•en tbe 16th at JanvarJ, 19171 tbe ever-vatchf'ul ears at tile British 

vireleae operators detected the characteriatic &p1utter1Dg which 1Dtc:rmd 

tllea that another~ ••aaae vu •;peecliDg through tbe air. When 4ecocle4, 

tbe 1\1'1 tish toumt th&~ tbe7 poaaes•ed this aomewbat d1aJo1nte4 mt still 

ext:remq valva'ble 4ocumeut: S W"O"...:k- ~ ~ ~""~ • ~ ~.,,.r j-"~ ~.._. 

c \ ~,,..~ ~"""'""' ~~J.A.. J l J ~ "Zimmermma to »ernatcrtt tcr Jk:k'bardt 

w 158 

16th J&DU8Z'7, 1917. 

"Most a~et fer Your .Excel.lenc71 a personal inf'c:rmtion am to be haDd.ed 

OD to the Imperial M1.niater 1.n t Mexico with Tel. No. I •••• b;y a sate 

route. 

"We purpose to begin on 'the lat Februaz7 uureatricted aubmariDe warfare. 

ID doing so, however 1 we shall endeavar to keep America neutral. • • • T 

It ve shuul.d DOt (succeed in doing so) we propose to ('I Mexico) in alliallce 

upon tl:Je :!olloVing basis. 

(~oiDt) cODduct ot tbe var 

(Joint) conclusion of peace .. 

"Your Excellenc7 should for the present 1.Dtarm the Pres14eat aecretq 

(tbat ve expect) war with the U. s. A. (josaib~) ( ••• Japan) and at the 

same time to negotiate between us and Japan • • • (Indecipherable sentence 

meani.Dg please tell the President) that • • • • our submar1Des • • • will 

compel Engl and to peace 1D a few months. Aclmwledge receipt. 

"'1'h1s acmevbat contused maaagea 1ives an idea ot the 41tticult7 at 

picking up-wireless 1p'bola sent acroaa the Atlantic--at that time--1.D 

miclviDter. But there 1a a ccmapicuous diacrepanc7 betveen tbia tel.esram 

and the mare cmp.1.ete and finished one aent to Bernstartt 'b;y W¥ at the 

Wuhtngton cab1e ottice am b;r him rel.aJad to the C1tJ' at Mexico. The pl.an 

fer 41.anmaberiDg the United Statea and mJr1ng President Carranza a tree gift 

ot Tezu1 Nev Mexico, and Arizcma 4oee not appear 1D it. Wlaetl:ler "1l1a Oldaa1on ,,.. the re•ul.t at 4etect1Te vireleaa vc:rk or baa aa.atber e.xplanatim 18 DOt _... clear." ~..... ~to~~ ~ 

Does Bemrbt want to ~ lernatartt 1144'4 thia prectoua 'bit ot enti~ 

/\. 1'. t>.. p~ ~, ~ e.-

tbia lure which the MaicaA PreaideDt CazTuza vu to awallow't /\. 'fll:r;. "81a»4r'f'• 

aplaaat10ll 1a quite ft'ODIU it 18, in tact, lli•lea41DI u4 parba:pa 1Dtellt:lmal17 

-28-
/ 

REF ID:A62864 

\ 

1 

.. , .............. \ .. -,.- ~. _, .. '"'\ .... , J·~,,-• .J 

,.. . "' 

41a1ngeDuowl. We aball soon lewn the real explanation tor the p.pa am 4oubttul 

~ _i: ~---at - -·-~ ~u·~ ~,-"':. ~--:,!::;-r ~ ~~~~a.a~ S~, to UJ!l!!MllS the -6-veeb • 4e.lq w ••e 1'eea '1&J kg -to Uias:tu. 

~(~ ~~-.ut. ~"'~ lf~ ~-~ ,~~. "We came now to the aecoad. canmun1cat1on channel used 'b1' the Germn 

Government to C0111Jll'D1 cate vi th Bernat~tt 1 the route via :BerliD, Stockholm, Buenos -Aires, Washington. This channel "WU made available by the good ottices 

ot the Swedish J'areig11 Office a.ad its re;presentatives abroad. Hints as to 

tbe use ot 'this cM.rmel 111r1 be f'ound 1D lcutaftt. -Far example, - on pap 65: 

•we had to tall back exclusiveq on the v1re1ess stations, vben, u trequentq 

happened, ve vere UDable to make use ~ the -circuitous -routes via neutral 

countries.' Ap1n cm pap 1491 ''relegraphic cO!l'IDm1cat1m between the 

German Government am the Embassy at WasbiDgtoE!. was carried out b;y a 

circui toua route / which made 1 t extremel.J' al.ow. •" 

~~h.~t - - 'l'laeN.-:18'~ -4 .Weaee that the Brit11h .::ame to kn.av all~t thia 

/.. 

circuitous route a. fev dlQ"S after it vu 1mlt1tute4; decodes ot meeaagea that 

-- --- - -- .. ----- -- ---------------- - - amount of moae:,y the GeraD Covermaent owecl in 4anapa far tlle cleatrw:tive 

w--~ U'IWh..t -Stz..\e.o - ---- --------- ------ ----- -
·~ 

·------·------··--~-- -- ···---. ---- -- --~ - ----- -- "Brtclentq lTerr Z1mmenmm at1ll f'eare4 that bis 1llS'truct1cma to-. \ 

Eckhardt woul.4 not reach their cleatillaticm, for thia ftr7 pdlaatak1ng \\ 

Foreign Secretal7 ae:ut tbem 111' a third route. In tbe Br1t1ab Admiral.t7 

tbia Bauen..sqvul.e thorought'&'L"e was Jmawn as tbe 'mill line•; it was ~ 

moat direct aD4 caaa~~----the one ~t used _t~J._~~~~"!'!..~Blll!c~el) to tbe Ur11tecl States c.cs~-the-ir-are!Sii Oll!Ce'"ba4 another Y&J' at ccmmmicatiDS 

I 

Vithits Alitiiaii&aar Waabington. The extent to which Swe41ah diplaatic 

a.gents were tranamittU. Germ.n messages constituted one at the gravest I scandals at the war... 'l'!Jat the Swedish J'oreip otf'ice vu so used is DOV 

no secret; in ta.ct, the American Governnent itaelt cliacloae4 the pa.rt 

Sweden was plqiDg, when, in the summer at 19171 it published the notorious 

"sink without a trace" messages at the German Min18ter at Bue~ A1rea. 

"The tact seems to be that the Svediah CO\rt was openJ.7 pro-German; 

that popular op1nian 1n Sweden s1m1Jarly inclined to the German side; am, 

bJ' J1UlUSr7, 1917 1 the Sved1eh Foreigll Office bad becme al.meet an integral 

1 part or the Germ.n arpnization. In mJ17 capitals German messages were 

frequently put 1n. Swedish cipher and sent to SvecU.ah MiDisters in other 

countries am by them delivered to their colleagues. Herr Z1Jmnermaml1 in 

hia desire to make certain that his Mexican telegram should reach 

Washington, again tell be.ck upon the assistance ot his Swedish ccmtrerea. , He banded his message to tbe Swecl1ah Minister to Berlin; this tuncticmary 

sent it to Stockholm1 Sweden; trom this point it was cabled to Bueno& 

Aires, .Argentina, a.ml trom that city cabled in turn to Washington. Tl:le 

Journe7 waa a rOUDlabout one 1 covering about ten thousand mil.es • ?et JlOthing 

i that vaa sent through the air ar under the sea seemed to escape the vatcbtul 

\ attention or the British Nava.l Intelligence, and this Swedish message was 

! captured al.most at the same moment as that one vbich was going by the '~in line'." 

~:adrii;I'<; ata~"In llBD7 capitals German :messages vere frequentq put 

') \~~~-~ 1D Swedish cipher and sent to Swedish MiDisters. •• • A." implies tliat tba British ,... , \ 

rea4 Swediah ccdea, too. :if 

f Qiia.r it voul.4 be eu7 to believe tha.t tbe Britiah obtaiD.ed &D4 read 

' ms1aps ill SWed1ah cede, tar tbeir :S.Dtercept service prett)' well cOYel'ed. 

I the earth. It 11, however, intrinsicall.7 unlilm~ that tbe Ger-.na voul4 

I gift the SVedeS the text of I. lle88&ge to be put into Svediah Coc1e for V&U• '• 

'. 111saicm. ~renal tba:lr secrete to the Sve418b GoYe1'mmntt It vu 10 

· mch eaaier llllZ'el.7 to uk Stockholm to tcrward a. 11taaap in Germn ccae--

1 :preciae]1' ae tMJ &alrac1 the Americana to do, &1 ve 1:ball socm 1ee. · lot ~' 

I however, 4o pro'babU1tiea point awa;r 'frca azq 14ea 1;bat a Swecliab coh was i usect, ~ ¥e have two pieces ot evi4ace cm thia •tter tJle • 1a1v . ! vhiah.~amiot be queat1mecl. ~ ~ c.e · "' ~- ~-

1_~.q.e ~~ ·~~~ ~ a-k ' .. (1 .. 

-·~-~&~~c:~ ~"'~· \ ,' . ~ ·31- . (J \ . - . ~ \ ' 
REF ID:A62864 

I 

-

L OenaD IUD1a~ in Bu.enoa Aires then forwarded the meaaase to lerastartt 1D 

.... 

-·- ' 

Wuldnstm, 'but 'betare 4o1Dg ao be appliell a :iiroo- ot ~tl.c al-~ _ . .j_ 

to tlie ca4e _ P'!"'P8, hopina t1!f \,,~ ~1f!!?~ee between Swedish aD4 Gerav. cocle·-· , j ·- ~ /J6u.a.~ ~A.~~~~·~~~~ ~~W ptmp1 voul4 not be noted. 'l'hel'e 1a a. note 1n our ol4 recarde an tb1a point, Ii . 

" I 

l.P al thia -4~gui•e ~t'' it vu ua~ llno cloubt • • • to protect the Sve41ab 

... _ ..... _ 'I' 

- - --- ... _ .. __ _ -~- /. 1a'8Nlcliar7, aa it. might otllerviae have 'been llOtiice.t 'the aam an ot fiprea ·. - - ... --- - -"'--""' ---- - - - '\.. - - - ___ ... ---- -- ..,_ --- ... _ .. _ 

---~...;:, .. -' ' ' ' 

... 

.. --- • - - ... --- '"l""V"' ...... 

a CoW' ot the co4ebook--certainl.7 not 'b)' stupid EDgl.iabmen.. Am1 also, 'b7 tbe 

V&'1i I toumt tha~ the 41sgu1ae procedure ,}Mtp.11 ae early as in ~ialla.e,..•---11191171::'1:!'tllii&;:1e: 

-31--
REF ID:A62864 -· , i 

\~;J;· to "'"' ' ' ."· ':i:·· .u..r· 0t "i9is .... 'lhe. tact tb.it "tiae i:r~tiee vu not at---' 

V,l".11"'"'6 

for 2 ~)~~ -~~ • "'"'""{I ~~:.J•J- ·-A e mare, tb<Pap tJle Britiab lllWlt ban beeA fu1q aware or 1t, apeab tor:~ ~{~\'f~ 

,/ 

---

-r '"' --. ... .,. t - .:.A."':!..:!:.,1J ~ 

t\aelt. 'rhe ltritish autharitiea must ha.Te realized aocm after Wll ~ ·--- ,,, ;· 

protest, which vaa no doubt mde eu~ 1D. the cznytol.og:l.c war, that tbe . , ' -

:t:a:rar-.tioa tbe;r vere gleauiDg t:rom tbe atu4;r ot these messages wu too 

val.u&ble to lose, eTen taking into account the tact that the meaaagea were 

at cona14erable use to their .enem1ea. It is mare than 11kel.7 that the 

SJU'cnaticm vu at leu't aa useful to tbe lritiah u it vu to tbe Germana 

themae1vea. In some cases there is no doubt that it was even more \18ef\ll..-... 

We come new to the third and moat interesting ot the Zimmermzm Telegram 

rout1.aga--the one that the Cronkhite story reported so dramatically as that 

c:-

uaed with cooperation ot the State Department. I quote from the HeDdrJ!t narrative: 

The German Government. :forwarded this dispatch to Washington in still 

another way. Indeed, the most remarkable incident in this remarkable 

transaction rema1DS to be told. Evidently the German Foreign otf'ice 

feared tbat transmission by- wireless and. cable transmission to Buenos 

Aires--by- grace of the Swedish Government--might tail them. The prohibition 

the American Gov~nt had placed upon the use of wireless from Bauen to 

Sayville 1 Long Island, might naturally cause apprehension as to the delivery 

or messages sent by this route. The cable liDe f'rom Stockholm. to Buenos 

Aires and thence to Washington and Mexico was a roundabout o.ae, and a 

message transmittPd that way might conceivably fail to reach its destination. 

The dis:patcb of this telegram, however, was at that moment the most 

important business betore the German Foreign Office and its sate arrival 

in the city of Mexico must be assured at aq coat. There was one method 

that was absolutely sure, though the fa.ct tbat this should ba.ve occurred to 

Zimmermann must be regarded as one of the most audacious and even reckless 

strokes of tbe war. Humor of any k1.Dd the Germans seldom displayed at crises 

at this sort, yet the mechanism adopted to make certain that this plot 

against the American people would safely land on Bernstarf'f 's desk evinces 

and unmistakable gitt--even though an unconscious ODe·-for the sardonic. 

The transaction reflects so seriously upon the mthods of the State 

Departmellt that it would probably never have seen the light bad the Germans 

not made it public themselves. I.a 1919-29 the GerDBD Constituent Assembly 

held an elaborate investigation into the respoa.aibility for the var. In 

this the Zimmer-.zm telegram played 1 ts part. Among 1 ts published documents 

is a note which reveals one route by- which this document found its vq acroaa 

the Atlantic. It sqa: . "Instructions to Minister von Eckhardt were to be taken b)' letter 

b)' way ot Washington b)' U-boat on the 15th ot January; since the U-boa.t 

Deutacbland did not start on her outward trip., these 1.Dstructiona were 

attached on January 16th to telegram No. 157 &D4 through the offices 

ot the American Embaasy- 1n Berlin telegraphed to Count Berutortf b)' 

way ot the State Department 111 Wa1b.1Dgtcm." 

-33-
• I 

--~ 

REF ID:A62864 

What this me&DS ia that the GermaA J'oreign Off'ice used tbe American 

Government aa u errand bOJ for the traum1ss10D ot a document that contained a plot ap1Dat its OWD territorial 1Ategrit7. • •••• 

The Cerman Government, many times in the course at the var, used the 

goocl offices at tbe American State Department for transmitting messages to 

Ambaaaador !ernstortt. ~ bad DO cable communication v1 th the United 

States; the wireless waa unreliable and not always available; occaa1ona117 

therefore, the CerDBD8 would request Washington to serve 1D this capacity. 

As all such messages touched England before starting across the Atlantic, the 

coneent of the British Government was necessary before the favor could be 

performed. That the British graciously permitted the Germans to use their 

cable facilities may possibly have seemed, at the time, an act savorillg ot 

the magnanimous,; the f'act, however, that the British possessed the German 

cipher and read all these messages as tbe7 sped through England creates 

the suspicion that they m.y have regarded this as a way ot obtaining 

valuable inf'ormation. ~ 

Hendrick makes it appear tbat obtaining permission to use the American State 

Department tacilitios was a rather simple matter and that many messages were 

sent by the State Department far the Germans in this way, w1 thout realization 

on the part ot State Department officialdom at the possibly serious consequences 

that might ensue. Tnat this is far :from the truth will appear later. Bia 

statement, too, that "As all such messages touched England before starting 

across the Atlantic, the con.sent of the .lh"i tish Govermnent was necessary before 

the favor could be performed" is meaninSJ.ess whe.n one considers tbe matter. It 

"· ... >- is obvious firat ot all tbat bi.cl :the~Ame~ic?an Government been so naive as to ask 

~ 

~ 

.. ~ -~-- ' - -......: 

" 

the British Government's conseni; to such a pl"Ocedure the latter '"70ul.cl certainly 

have refused. It ia likewise obvious that when Ber.as"ari'f wanted to send a 

code message to the Foreign Office in Berlin, the State Department could not 

simply address a telegram to the American Ambassador, Gerard, in plain l.anguaae 

asking him to ''Forward the tcl.lowi.ug code l'lessage to the Germa.a Foreign otf'ice." 

The British would natural1y not pass such message& even tho'Uih the greatest 

neutral countr;y asked such a favor. Such a procedure is not a diplomatic 

possibility in time of war. If not in plain language, the forwarding by the 

State Department of' German code messages bad to be done through the intermediacyof State Department code. Assuming tbat official messages of the American 

Government to her ambassadars am ministers in Europe were not subJected to 

&DJ study whatsoever by the Isrit1sh Cr;rptographic Bureau (which is difficult to 

believe), it is possible that this practice might not have been detected !:mediate~ 

bJ the British. But the JDBlliler in wbicb the messages were actually drawn up was 

such that the discovery of the practice should and must have beeJl :particul.arl1' 

eaa1 1f American messages were even hastily scanned. Here is an example ot t.he 

L~ text of such a message, copied f'rom the files of the State Deparu.nt: 

Amlep.tion 

Copenhagen 

Forward Berlin 

3893 

Deliver to German Foreign Office the folloving mesaaae from 

Ambassador Jerutartt. 

(A44 Ceman Cipher.) 

LABS ING 

-34-
~REF ID :A62864 

. . '\ 

i 

- :-t-J-1 

LackiDa a caw at the telegram as actually f'iled tor t.r&D&mission, the torm the 

code message took when tiled cannot here be 1mticated; but we have on this point 

the positive statement at Mr. Davicl A. SalmoD, tben ..., zgv Chief ot the 

D1v1a1on ot COllllR.Ulicatiom and. Records ot the State Department, to the effect 

tl\at the code groups at the Germn cccle message were not reencoded in the 

State Department code, or changed in B.D1' way whatever: they- were merely a4ded 

to the preamble reqμesting the f'arward1ng ot the meBBage. This preamble was 

~ in c:ccle--&merican State Department code. Nov the code croups of the American 

cede were moat commonly in letters, while those ot the German code were 1D 

tiaures. Furthermore 1 the code groups of the CermaD code vere characterized 

by being composed ot three, four, and f'ive digits, whereas in most codes of even 

t!aose days all of the code group& unif'orml.7 contained f'ive letter, or fl.ve figures. 

Hence the subter:f'uge was sure to be detected almost immediately by the British. 

Still they made no protest. ~ The answer must surely be obvious: they were 

glad to have access to this leakage ot valuable information, and to lodge a. 

~otest would at once dry it up at the source. 

Whereas Hendrick makes it appear that our State Department haodled IDalQ" 

messages tor the Germ?lS, Lansing 1n his account ot the matter makes it a:rrssr &k.. 

ftj..t"+c: aJ the transmiuaion of tne ZimmermaDD telegram Via State Department , cbam:lels was an isolated incident, or at least that this _..._.._. communication cJ.t.. 

was .!)laced at the dispoaal of'_Bernstqrtf' Q.9.11 toward .. the em of the period of 

1 

~ 

strained relations.~~~~~£oov- ~O-•A4< ·hi\;.~'~ +e ~~-.. '"""'cL.J··k~ -i. .at- ~.l\-k~~u~cib""""~~-~~jE, At eleven-thirty I went to the White House and for an hour discu'.ssed ~ with the President the substance of' the (Zimmermann) telegram and the way 

to use it. The President said that ~e bad been wondering how Bernstortf 

got the messo.ge from Eerlin, aud that the closing of secret lines of 

COlllll1Ullicat1on with his government :made him a little uncertain as to is 

authent1c1 ty. 

I told him that I thought it could be easily explained, 'ar:f 091llion 

being tbat it was done in the i'ollov1n.i D1Wmer: During the early pa.rt 

of JanU&ey' Count von Bernstorff, at the illatance at Colonel House 1 had been 

laborizli with his government to obtain concrete terms of peace. The 

Ambassador had complained of' his inabilit7 to c0111111UDicate secretly and 

therefore f'reely vitb Berlin, which he considered essential 1D order to 

a.ccompl.ish his purpose. In view of this reasonable statement we bad 

coueittedlvery reluctantly to aend (tbat is, 1D a cipher, of which the 

Department did not have the key) mesaages for hi.JD throuoh our Embassy. 

This we did several times, permitting the German Foreign Ottice to reply 

in the sue way. On January seventeenth an exceptionally long messsp 

(same one thourancl groups) came through tram BerliD. OD the eighteeuth " 

this message was delivered to the Ambassador. On the nineteenth the telegram 

from Bernstortf to Mexico was filed. From these tacts I drew the c~cluaion 

tbat in the long secret message delivered to him on the eighteenth waa the 

messa.se for the German Minister besides other orders as to what to do 1n 

case ot a eeverance ot diplomatic relations. 

'l'he President two or three times during the recital of tbe foregoing 

exclaimed "Good Lord!" and 'W'ben I had finished said he believed that the 

deduction as to how Bernatortt received his arders was correct. Be ahove4 

much resentment at the German Government tor bavtng imposed upon our 

kindneaa in this wrq am tor baving lllBAe us the iDDocent agents to a4'f8ACe 

a caraap1rac7 -1D8t th18 cOU11trJ'. 

-35- ~--.....a.--
ot •VaiMA nl&ticaa. 

~ 

REF ID:A62864 

at J.eaat om 

Sate l>eplr'tlmat t'Md •aaapa not ....... 

"'--.· / 

OQllllD Goftrrn tut, but ala~ Auatriaa, u 1a iron4 'bJ' a ~J. ""· 

, .... 

/ 

teJJWJ• kW Pebnm7 ~, 1917 ,. .. -6'~ LuaiJal to ~N4cr 1Wlt1el4 a't 

/' 

1lote tbe plural - "co4n" - tllat •1 ftr1 111pcrtant 1D tlib cue, u 7°" •'ball 

• 

-· PiJ'St, u 'to tbe oo4e waed tar ·1ta :puaap flt• Berl.ill to Wuhingto1u 

~~ M~ ~c:\-.:~tlt 

~ .._..cu be no qaeatim tat the•••• v!aicb carried ti. Zimlnun 'felapaa -lo 

I\. 
..... r 

______ __._-

REF ID:A62864 

(it bore the no. 158) was the oae which bad been appended to Berl1n-Waabington 

and Which waa sent via State Department cba.nnela. M I've 

measage So. 1571 

al.ready aaid, tbe British Govermrent bas ott1c1ally never pu.bl18bed arq aacCNAt -

ot tbe interception and solution of the Zimmer~ T e 

l 

e... o,,.am """" WJ 

ite cr~ta 

tb t l D"P&llS that passed between in Roam 4e. But when we study very intently e e e_ 

~ 

\ 

the British and American. Governments dealing wi~ the Z~r~u,i·~...i.o. ~ ~ 

~~~~~ /'J~ ~ ·~--7?-~~~-

- .&- . H -~~-~~0;~~~ HU-~-~-~.~-- ~ -~ : -.; · ~ \lorld ~.'ar that now clra;w rMld~Q. As I had no acceas to unreleased ott1c1al 

-:--- ~~J·~ :papers and the framework.of tbia book 1& a distillation of a mass ot ~ ., • mterial scattered through standard works which were beat-sellers twentv I ,A,_ I t/ 

__ ........... years ago, it was not necessary for me to obtain official approval. er 

' . ~- ' 

·~ / 

support tar publ1cat1oo, I was, indeed, J.u a better position to judge 

whb.t coul.4 and what should not be published tha.11 &rq"one to whom tbe Pirat 

Warld War is only a boyhood's memory, 11' a 'l1Jl!!JJJI1ry at all, because I knew 

how much of Bail's work WQ.8 kuown to our enemies during the var and hov 

much had been published to tho world since the war. 

"I bed also the advantage at having taken some part, when at the 

Admiralty, in passing for publication 'books and articles covering var1oue 

aapect:s at the 1914-18 war and 1Dtorming authors •hat, fer security 

reasons, could not yet be published, and, mare important, the advantage 

ot personal knowledge ot the men and events I vould be describing, which 

would eanble me to diatiDSUioh fact :from fiction and to Judge when 

reterence to the shortcomings ot individusJ.s should be omitted." 

-~=--~' - ~ *" ~ ~ --- ---- -- ~ ------ ID recalliiig 1iiil11.plowatic i.riumphs I was on well-worn ground. 'nae --

story of' the 'Zimmermann telee;rain•, whose exposure brought America iJlto 

the war, is in standard histories 111 all J.a.nguages; the 'Lux.burg telegrams•, 

whose _exposure had a profound 1nfluence on public opin1on throughout tbe - - ·-

American continent, were published in newspapers all tho world over 'betare 

they passe.J. into the paps ot history; tbe 251 telegrams concerlLiag ,._ _ _ _ 

plots or the German saboteurs in America which were exhibits at the 

famous Black Tom case, heard at the International Court ot J\lstice at 

the Hague, ue qμoted in several books a.bout the case. - - - - ,:· 

"In recalli.Dg the work ot Hall 'a naval section I 'Iv-OS also on vellworn grOUDd; the text or intercepted a.od decyphered signals is glven 

______ 1n British, American, &Dd German official histories. n .............. - - -... -.. - -... ........ -..... -- - ._. ·--·---- ... ____ ... - \ __ ..... ---~=--=, ------

1 _ a...4 But Admiral James was careful. Even though, as he says, he had zaot, 

.J"'"'f-r-:;-~c..4'•• to unreleased otf'icial. papers and therefore it wasn't necessary for 

9f .,,. ' J , ..,.., wlfl ....... "9 A I;,,, I ;r~, A,_ 1,~}' 1 :'( .. If 

him. to obtain official approval. for publishing ll1s book, he did submit it. tar 

&OIDB sort i.>f blessing, if not approval. 'rhis I learned in a report elated 

15 December 1955 tram our Liaison Officer .ln London, vho said: 
REF ID:A62864 

Zimller1m.zm Tel.egram. 

·' loft •a ~~ frClll Admiral Jamea • account, 

l 

\ 

"Then, early 1D. the New Year, cue the 1Zimmer111Bm1 telegram•, and 

though the first knowledp of this surprising coamunication was derived 

frQD1 European sources, Hall's friends in Mexico City vere soon playing an 

important part in the complicated business that followed. On Wednesday 

morning, January 17, Ball was at vork at the usual 4ockets and papers 

when at a.bout half'-:pe.at ten, a member ot the political section came in 

and told him that he and one ot his colleagues bad :pertly decyphered a. 

message from the German Fareig..'1 Office to Bernstorf'f' which, if me.de knmm 

to the American Government, would lU"ObabJ.y bring America into the var. 

"The tvo men who, by soJ.vt:ig this cypher, al. tered the course af 

history died several years ago, and their names have already been published. 

So 1n their case it is Justifiable to ignore the canon tbat the names at 

thc:le C!lG:l~ed on ::;ecret work ::.hould not be d ts closed. They were .Nigel 

de Grey, c1. :publisher, and s.f'ter the Yar a Director of the Medici Society, 

and the Rev. W. Ho.atgcmery, of Ueaminster Presbyteria.:i College, Cambridge. 

"'This was the :oessa.ge Hall read: r~ ...... ~ ~:G.. -.j--- '-'~- ~ ... ~ ~ "-- .. \ ' 

.;, ,1......-.... .:l.J,..JI..,) ' ' .._ I 

-- _.....-~LDl TO i1.~'\SEnG'!'O:i. ·,; 158. 16 January 1917. 

. "?~st secret for 'Your Excellency's j;.lersonal. information and 

to be handed cm.to the Imperial Miuieter in (?) Mexico with •..• 

by a safe route. 

"We :JI"o~ose to begin en the lat February unrestricted submarine 

warfare. Jn doing this however we shall endeavour to keep Ameri.ca neutral 

•... (?) !f' ve &hould not (f succeed in doing so ) we propose to 

(1 Mexico) an al!iance upon the following basis: 

(joint) conduct of var 

(joint j conclua ion of peace • • • 

"Your Excellency should for the present i.D:form the President 

secretly('! that we expect) war with the U.S.A. (possibly) ( ••• Japan) 

and at the same time to negotiate bet·tteen us and Japan • • • 

-~ . • . Please tell the President that . . • our submarines • • 

~} will compel F.DgJand tc peace within a few months. Acknowledge receipt. 

~-

ll \ ZIMMERMANN" 

"So not only bad the great decision been taken to begiD unrestricted 

sulmm-1ne '«8.rf'are, but the Germ.ns were proposi.Dg to bring Mexico into the 

var on their side. 

c____ + 
' 

REF ID:A62864 

--- ---- "'l'be me1sage was sent b)" cable through Stockhol:m. to Buenos Aires tar ·. onvard traumisaion to Washington, but it was of aucb illlportance that it 

\ w.a sent 'bJ' tvo other routes, 01Je ot which could not poasi~ tail: · Z1Daerm.DD attached the telegram to another telegram -.rhich tbe American 

\ Embass7 1Jl Berlin was telegrapbing tar him to Count l9ernstorft bf "81' ot 

.. State Department in Waah1Dgton. Dr. Pap cleacri'bes this as one ot 

the moat amacious and reckless strokes ot the var. 'l'be Germn Pareisn 

Otf'ice bad used the American Embassy as an errand bOJ to transm1t a ~asap that contained a plot asai.Dst its own territorial integl'ity. 

ll 

{ liif• "This piece ot ettro."lteey can never have been equalled ill the 

~tQl7' ot political intrigue." 

' I I tm fortunate to be able to show you ~ Mr. de Grey looked like. In ~ 

~ talks with him not once did he mention the role he played in readllls the 

Zimmermann 'l'elegra.m--nor did anyone else in the organization in which be was 

Deputy to Sir Edward Travis, the Chief. I have no photograph at the Reverend 

Montgomery to show you. But Nigel de Grey was &Dd looked the pa.rt ot a character 

1n Dickens or in a spine-chilliDg :myst~ in book or on stage. 

There are reasons to believe that the version at the Zimmermann Telegram 

70U've just seen came from the State Department message ccmtainiDS :Berlin's 

Boa. 157 and 158 to Washington--but I don•t think it would be polite even now 

to iD.timate that the British were also intercepting and stu4J'1Dg messages at the 

UDitecl States Gcwernment! I wouldn't even mention such an 14ea were it not. a 

fact that soon after we_ came into the var cnr al.17 Britain atticially tolcl ua tbat 

our col!ea veren•t sate! 

~~~= .Ja.1-

•-
REF ID:A6286. 

"Ball at once realized that Zimmerman'• •••aae to Mexico vu b;y' 

tar tbe moat important message tbat had ao tar ccme into bis ha.n4s; he &lao 

realized that it would reqμire tbe most careful haDdliD&. Be p.ve cnodera 

that a.ll copies except the or111Dal meHage snd one decJ'l)hered copyvere 

to be destroyed, 1ocke4 tbea iD hia desk, an4 eat down b,y bU.elt to evolve 

a plan of campailn· 

"What was the poaitiou'l Withill a tortniaht 11 time the fact that 0er-.zl1' 

vaa propooine; tc declare immediate UDrestr1cted warfare wou.ld be communicated 

by !ernstori':f' to tbe United Statea Goverme:nt. Would this be autt1cient to 

ConTince Preaident Wilton tbt. t tha Germane voul.4 stick at nothinaT lie 

most recent note bad ahCJWU something ot the way ill which his miDll vu 

vorkiDg. It seemed that be drew little diatinction between tbe laehaviour 

ot the Allies aD4 that ot the Germans, or, indeed, between the juatice of' 

our cause and of tbeirs. If' th1e new declaration wu autticient, well am 

good; we need not run risks, and the Zimmermann telegram need never be ue4 

at all. On the other hand, the new submarine warfare might not, in itAlt 1 

be sufficient to ccmvince the President, and in that case tlais infarmtica 

about the •z1can plan 111Bt 'be made uae of if we coal.d aa:f'egua:rcl ouraelwa. 

Publication ot the teleF"am ill the Un1te<l Ota.tea would almo1t certa1n17 roue 

the whole at the United States, and might well tcrce the P.re•ident to declare 

war, but 1t 'i."ould be at the coat ot hazardill& tbe moat vital ;part ot our 

Intelligence service--a bazard that be would not tqe. 

"Be70JJd the tact that the •••e.ae gave the date an wbicb wireav1cted 

aubmrine warfare would beain, tt vas of no :lllaediate naval interest, and the 

pl"Oper procedure WO\lld have been tor Ball to pua the meeeap to the J'creign 

Ottice. He delibera:tely wttbbelcl o.11 1nt'ormat1on trom those beat entitled 

to rec:e1ve it, aa4 asa'\lllled a reapona1'b111ty which CNgbt never to h&Ye been 

hia, because he vould not run the smallest risk at the mesbace becom!r:la 

known. to eomebod7 vho, not beiDI familiar vitb ever7 branch at hit act1Yit1ea, 

misht all unvi tt1D117 compromise sme pe;rt ar a.11 or tbe work ot Rocm 4•. 

"Yet a~ pl.Qll had to be evolved,, and, while mental.ly follovin& the 

rou.te that the z~ telep-• vould take, Ball aaw that the n.utorttEckberdt rnessages which 11. had seeured might solve hU problell, because tbe 

ZiJlllermarll':l telegram, when forwarded au, as it rmat be, trom WuidDPon to 

Mexico, would be oDl)" another in that service. It be could secure a 

copy, it could be made to appear tbat the message wben pa&HiD& trm Waahiugtcm 

to Mexico ht.d been copied and deanmered by the American Intelligence Service, 

and tbat ve had had nothing to do with it. 

"He w.s certain, 'that e'feD it somebody w!:Kwll Pl'eaicleAt Wil&Oll illplicitl.¥ 

trustee!, like Mr. Bal.tour, gave his iiersODal. uaurance tbat the teleasraa 

dec)"phered by deGre:r l."8.8 genuine, the President woulcl dllmlld the moat 

ctet'1n1te proOf tbat the :ioosa8.6e 'bore the meaniDg ucribec1. to it, and it 

would not 'be euy to COllY~nce the President aD4 tbe Americana that tlae 

Zimmermann telegram. vas not a hoa&. 

"There aae no need tor an immediate decision, aa be co\IJA not taJre 

I.rs:/ active steps until after the declaration on Februar;y l. Neu.while 

-42-

- - - --------- - --- - -
REF ID:A62864 

it wa eeH8'1al. to Jmep tbe cl.oeeat pei'bla watch OD Bermtorft ml 

.. Mlriaan 11tuat1m, 1D crier to be r-47 at &IQ' a1ven ... nt vitb 

al:termt1w p1aDa." 

Jlc'natcrft triec1 4eaperate1J to ban Berlin ah&DP 1 te cleciaion about 

_...tr1oW su1-zoine wartare--to no avail. 

OD 1 1e'bru&r7, llernatartt ott1c1al.11' ban4el 111 bia IOftlWAt '• ~ 

"To Ball'• 418..,-, but not altoptber to h1a nrpJ"in, •twr1 vat 

:mo fm"tblr. C.'bl• fr(a W~ Ul4 SW tCl"k Vlll'MI b1a tlat. ti.re 

voaJ.4 M 4elaJ81 t!Ml perbaps DO llCll"e poeitift acr\1.m tha a proc1-t.1ca 

Oft •....a ...-..U\)·1 '9' "1J9 l'l:'e9U... !119 tm lm4 cma to ta1ll ut1ca, 

u4 OD hlrw'7 5 Ball .., Lar4 11ar41-p, 1ille 111 r•Dt SecJ'e'tu7 at 1'be 

Pareip Ott1oe, ul aJaolel b1a u •pUtW 4ec1JMr ot the 11 v r-- •lalr• vldcll 4eGllN1' 1114 DOV 'been abl.8 to produae. Ba pit tarvart a.....i 

..,..ntcma. Ia 'Ule t:lnt pl.Me, it VGUl4 'lllt neaeeaa17 to o1'taia a COJ'I' 

at ti. te1ep'aa tl'cm lltxico Cit7. B. vu no lcmpr tM:re, but h1a pl.Me 

W 'been ta1reJl 'bJ 'f., vbo vu fUl.11' &VU'• ot vllat vaa atoot in tl» teJ.eFapb 

ottice, amt Ball 414 not uticiJ&te mch vm'ble t.bere." 

Ball then· took •'MJll to obta1ll '1w 8441 t1GDal WS.mce tba" he refl'l1Z'el 

~~~~~ ......... .,£.;..,,_~~ ·u the ..,., ot an npure &114 "MlecNit-1 ...._., llt. ~ lafa •••• q11\ ta 
REF ID:A62864 

af 

b 

~~ 

the "Mr', 

'Alt¢ 

!Df" 

ea~> refe;;e4 .. ~ · fk• 

1te 

ei.;t.. 

m 

w-..l~ 

wlm:t I• we 

fV"'-N~~~ Jttst eaill" a... ~ 

J.fr. "'rj 

~..4 .-. ~..-.~~ 

a Britia~ 

~ ' 

.,11rat::1:,..._. secret agent in Mexico City. In a rather odd vay and quite by 

accident be turned out to be a most useful character in the drama 0: the 

"Since the outbreak ot var there had been several revolutions in 

Mexico, and as each new conqueror had taken charge at the capital city, 

one at his :t'irst actions had been to decl.a:'e the currency of bia predecesaar 

to be valueless and issue one or his own. All that was necessary was to print 

someti.Dg on small bits of cardboard, resembli!lg railway-tickets, and called 

•carton.es•, and cal.1 them .aney. Moat ot these were worth no more tbaD a 

P8Dn1 or two, but there vere numerous forgeries al•.rays 1n circulation, and 

the mtter had become so serioilS that President Carranza had given orders 

that any such forgery should be punishable by death. 

"It was shortly af'te~ this order bo.d been made that a printer, an 

Englishman, happened to retur!l to his varkshop unexpectedly one Saturdq 

afternoon. Rjs wo-kmen, all ot them Mexicans, were tak-t:ig their balf-day 

off'. To his aston1alment and dismay he found on a table a neat pile of 

these cartones and the plates from -1h1ch they had been printed. In his 

excitement he made the vorst possible mistake, a.Dd locked up the tarw1es 

and plates in his se"e. He then rushed cut to consult a friend on what 

he should do next. 

"Meanwhile the workmn who bad made the forgeries returned for the 

eartones and 1 realizing what must 'have happened sought to save his at1."Il 

skin by getting in first with a denunciation ot bis master. The untortuoate 

printer ·wa.s arrested the sa:oe afternoon, ordered to open his safe, and then 

hurried ott to a drumhead court .. martial and condemned to be shot at davn 

OD the Monday. 

"On hearing ot the arrest, H. wnt to the British Minister, who at once 

got in touch with the Mexican authorities and obtained their agreement 

that be should be responsible tar the 1crim1DS.l.'. He then pointed out 

tllat if' an EngliahDBD intended to comm1 t a. tar pry he vould aim higher 

than pe1U17 or twopenny notes, and persuaded the authorities to exant1ne 

the case more cloae~. The printer was shortly attervards released. 

"It was an unpleasant atta:lr vbile it laete41 but it wu to prw14e 

Hall vith the messages be was anxious to obtain, because tbe printer and 

his trieDil vel"e both anxious to show their gratitude, and the f'r1eD4 was 

working in tbe telegraph office." 

-44-
REF ID:A62864 

~~cj· 

When ~'B" vu replaced b7 1• r•• csdt 1111'" 1 the good wazok vent m, a.rd 

that's bow Ball 1D LaDllcm. waa ab1e to get a COJ17 ot the 2.immermJm 'l'elegr:oam in 

the f'orm iD vhich it 'W88 sent tram 15ernstorff 1n W'aahi.Dgton to Eckhardt in 

Mexico City. 'rhe pos&essicm of that version ot tbe message turned out to be 

' , .... _ " L- \ ..- .. - .I' ,__....._ .. .:a-- - ---

at crucial importance! • Mmir~ James,~~~ :· i. ' ,... .,,. .. - ~ ... ~,. ....,; , .. 4... ......_ .--.-4....------..... ~ .. ~ .... - . .,. __ -., _ _.....,.. -,. .... .I' A..--...__-- ... -..... 

., ·''J ·i I 

r

- "On February 8 the political'"" secti.Oll decypbered a second telegram. 

trom Zimmermmi sent direct to Mtsxico: 

8th February, 1917. 

l ~­ \ 

-{ \ lloat Secret. Dec;rpber peroanaJ J-,. 

~..... \ Provided there ia no danger at secret being betr~ to U.S.A. you 

V 1 are desired without further delay to brca.ch the question of an Alliance 

I

, \ to the President. The definite conclusio.u of au alliaDce, however, is 

I 1

• dependent on the outbreak ot war between Gel'JllBDY' and U.S.A. The President 

1 might even nav, on his awn account, sound Japan. 

It the President decliDes from fear ot subsequent revenge JOU are 

1 

empowered to c-f"ler him a defl.llite alliance after conclusion ot peace 

. provided Mexico succeeds in drawing Japan iDto the al.J.iance. I 

1 

~ 

l 'l'wo days later Ball learnt that 'l'. bad secured the cables which l hew~~·" 

_ __,..-_.. "So much progreas with the reconstruction of tbe cccle had been made 

I 

_t\'-'~J VW- ~ \that by Februar:y JS Ball had in bis hamla an al.Jllcat :perfect transcript"; acd 

lt""i.: 

~ ·~t. Q.. 1 James then gives the 

c~ 

teXt of the 

~ 

~ 

~ 'l'elegraa as aemr~ published 1D. 

·tL 

' \ ~ \the histaey lioaks. IA,l_,._.,oJ..:J..~ojtpf\R.. ~~L ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~· L-. - -- -• Q ) (J - L \ 

~ • ~ .. ...,~-';of""•l""JI/ ,.. I \ 

L.-- - ----- 7 " ........ ~-- .. 11-1:. 

:But James 1.s thro-J1.Dg a little cluat 1A our e;vaa. The

1

wvers1oa • ot the \ 

" I \ 

Z1lalllermzm Telep-am tllat wu fimlJ.f publieW was Dot tlle ftl'11Cll tll&"t vu ill \\ 

I 

\ l ~- \ -- .... ..--~- -- ' 
REF ID:A62864 

the telegram tram ZiDmlerm&DD to :Bernatartt. The latter vaa 1A a canqm-ativeq 

Jernstarft to Eckberdt, altho'Uflh quite similar ill conteAt, vas 1.11 a llL\Ch older 

- and much simpler one-part code known as Code l3fll4S J 

J 

~~ ..... ~ ~~~·. ... ..... ... --.... ,..,, .... ..,. ,,._ ....... ... .n .,., -~ ... -

- - --......._ ________ _ - __ __,,_.---.. ---- 19.1.17. 

"We illte.Dd to begin on the first o:t F.ebrua.ry um"eatricted submarine · warfare. We aball endeavour lJl spite at this to JEeep the U.S.A. neutral. 

In the eve.at of this not succeedilig we make Mexico a pi-opoaal of aJ11apce 

OD the f'ollowi.Dg terms: .. 

Make war together. 

Make peace together. 

"Generous financial support aad an undertaking on our pa.rt -..ha-.. 

Mexico is to reconquer tbe lost territory in Texas, New Mexico aDd 

Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. 

"You will ill:f'orm the President of the above most secretly as soon 

as tlle outbreak of war vith U.S.A. is certain, a.ad add the suggestiOll 

that he ahculd au his own iD.itiative invite Japan to immediate adherence 

and at the same time mediate between Japan and ow.•selves. 

"Please call the President's attention to tbe :tact that the ruthless emplo;yment of our submarines now otters the prospect of compelling 

Engl and in a few months to make :peace. 

'---==-----,.,_..-.-·-___. ..... ...-... -.-"~II"_ ..... _-.... _ .... - ""'-~ ... .. .. .. ---.-.. 

"It had always been his J.Dtention that his friends at the American 

Embassy should &bare, UDoff'icial.l.y", vhat waa ao essent1ally an 'AleriC&D' 

secret at the first possible moment, and as soon as he had read -vhe 

completed draft he asked Mr. FA.ward Bell or the American Em.busy to come 

am aee him. 

"Mr. Bell's first 1'\\ry at learning that GermD1' vaa urging the 

Mexicans to •reconquer the lost territory in Tex aa am. Arizona' turned, 

very naturally, into tbe belief that it was a hoaz. 'lb& Genams bad 

made same bad mistakes in their time, but this waa iDcredibJ.e. 

"Ball lrf"U able to assure him that the message waa far tram~ beiJ:lg a 

hcwc, ai.a. Bell then &aid that publication would certai.al7 mean var, aad 

asked if the message vas to be gift.11 to the Jlmbua7. Jlall e~ilied tllat 

the Fareip Office bad not 19t come to a 4ecision whether the maaage 

should be shown ~ to the President or given to the American people. Be 

asked JJell to tell the Ambaaaa4or what be bad aeen, 'but at the aame tU. 

'beggecl hia to make no uae ot tbe intorm.tiou until Mr. BaJ.f0\11" b&c1 llll4e 

bis 4ec:S.aion. 

-46-

I, 

' 

\ 
REF ID:A6286~ 

"For the past week or so Ball bad been v1uit1DCi the Foreign Office 

every day tv discuGs methods of' handling the telegram, but no satisfactory 

aolution had been f'ound. Do.rd ll3rdinge was averse tr~m •.tey ste.P which 

could r.oasibly convey the :l.m,1ll"esston :Jn Washington that there- '-'&S a 

cbambre noir iA the rareiSD Office or that the Bri'i'h Gcvernment was 

endeavuur1,ne to influence a neutral state 1n its tavour." 

But by this tiI:Ie Hall bad in:f'armatiou that the Ger::uan-Ameri:::nno in the 

United Statea vere extremely 3.Ctiva in their endeavors to stay the President's 

hand. Re f'elt that the time h."\d CL)IQO tor i1111Dediate action and i'orina.l.q 

pre1aed tor a decision as reprda bringing the Zi:mmermnn Telegram. to the 

attention or Preside~t Wil3on. On 2' FPbru.iry he received Balfour's authority 

to handle the whole matter as he s3.w tit. .T"lr.lea continues the story: 

"!Tolo.l{?ed dis.~ussed with Dr. Page and Mr. »ell followed. The 

.lm'ba.s~o.dor wao in no doubt about the best method to adopt -;.r!th regard to 

the h:l.ndi.n.g oV'er ot the telegram itself. He .,ms sure the e:f'f'ect on the 

Prea1dent's mind "Would be 1n:f'1n1tely greater U the documents •.rere to be 

gi•ren to him otticitJ.lly b)" the Foreign necreta.Ty,, a.nd this Mr. Bal.tour 

agreed to do. 

"The vexed questions ot an abaolute caver for Room 4S; tbe •ceaaity 

!or our d11ne nothing on ArtericRD so5l to uhich the American people c°"1.d 

object; the possible retwlal to n.cce:?t the genuineness of the mesaase, &Dd 

the steps vh1cb "W'OUJ.d bave to be ta.ken in the event o'E Zi.mmermma iw.elt 

denoucing the telegram as a forgery were not so eas111' resolTed. 

"The 14vantqes tbat vere to. fl.ow t"rom bavina obtained a Ctr/11 ot the 

telegrat'l in Mexico and not :ln the United Gtates vere now evident. There 

was nothing to pr~nrent the American authorities trcm obtainins their own 

CO'J!Y tn the Washington cable office, arld tbe :tact tbat the British 

Government had otricially provided a decoded tranacript would satisf)t 

them. or its genuineneae. :But there ~,181S still the poasibility that tbe 

American Goverzment voul4 demand absolute proot, an4 that would mean 

banding aver to tbel!l de Grey's recOD&tructad code, which Ball woul.4 never 

do. 

"Then,, on a. sudden,, a possible solution suggested itselt, which wu 

so oimple that I!a.11 1 the Amb&aaadar 1 and Mr. Bell vODdered why it lllld. not 

occurred to any of them betare. U Presideiit Wilson, when he expoae4 the 
REF ID:A6286. 

telearaa, was in a position to atate that it bad been obtained and 

4ecnhered by Americana 1 on American eoil, all would be well, and tbi• 

could be achieved it Mr. !ell decypbered tbe •aaaae sent tr'* WaahiDCton 

to Mexico under 4eGrey•a tuition in the American Embuay, which, technically 

apeakina, 'W'aa Aaerican ;round. As for Zimmrmnn'• poaaible denial, it 

seP~ better to wait until atter the e.xpo9ure before tal'1ns ~ 4ecil1on. 

"Atter that, thinsa happened epeedi'.cy enouch. On Saturday, Febru&ry 

24, while the newape.pers in Waehington were &Herting tbat in ot:t'icial 

circles there wa1 still hoi;>e tor averting trouble, Dr. Page called at 

the Foreign Office and vaa of':t'ic1ally banded the meaaage. He lost no ti.M 

and wi thiri' a few boura a cable was on i te way to the State Department 1 

Confidential 'tor the President and Secretary of State. 

:Bal.tour bu banded me tbe translation ot a cypher meaaaae tram 

Zimmermann, the German Secretary of State for Foreign Atta.ire 1 to the 

German Miniater 1n Mexico, which waa sent via Waahlll&ton and rel&yed by 

Bernstartt on January 19th. 

You can probably obtain a capy of the text rel..ayed by Bernatortt 

tram the cable ottice in Washington. Tbe first aroup is the number ot 

the telegram, 130, and the second is 130421 iDdicatiD& the m>ml>er of tbe 

code uaed. 'l'be lut but two 18 97556, which ia Zimmermann's eipature. 

I tball •end you 'b7 mail a capy of the cypher text &D4 of the 

decode into German, and. meonwhile I give you tbe English translation 

as follOW"8: 

(Jlel•e f'ollows tbe text a.a pl"inted above.) 

The receipt ot thia intormation bu ao creatly exercised the 

lh'itish Government that they 'bave loat no time in conmnmicatina 1t to me 

to tranemit to you. in order that ;you may be able, without de]JQr, to mke 

auch dispoeitiona aa my- be ueeesaary in view ot the tbreatened invneion 

or our territory. 

Tbe :tollowiJl8 paragraph is strictly ccmticlent1al. 

Early 1n tbe war the British QO¥er.nment obtained possession ot a 

copy ot the German c)'pher code used in the above m1eaae and have mde it 

their buaine•• 'tD obtain copies ot Ber)latortf 1• cn>ber mee1agea to Mexico, 

amongst other•, which are aent back to London &D4 uc)'pbered 1*re. Thia 

account. f'or their beinl able to decypber thia •••ace trom the Ger1laD 

Govermaent to their representative in Mexico amt alao tor tbe de~ tram 

JanU&l"J 19 \Ul'til now 1n their receiving the intOl'Jlation. 

Thie system bu IP.therto been a jeal.oual.y IU&l'ded aecret and 1• only 

divulged now to you by the llritiab Government in view of tlle circuautancu 

am their trie:adly teelinga towards the United State1. They -.rneatly 

request that you will keep tbe source at your infor•tian1 and the Jh-itish 

Government's method ot obta;in1ng it protouad.ly aecret, bUt they put no prohibition on the publication of ZiJmlermann'• Wlell'&m itself. 

-48-
REF ID:A62864e 

The copies ot thi•, &114 other tel.eP"&m 1 were DOt obtaimcl 1a 

Wubincton, but were boupt 111 Mexico. 

I bave tbanked !altour tar the service bis Clo'Nrmmit bu remlere4 

ua u4 •uaeat tbat a p-ivate official: •••ace ot ti..au f'l"ca our Ooftrn-

•nt to bia voul.4 be &PJIL"eciated. 

I am intormd that thi• 1Df'armat1ou baa not 19t been pftA to tbe 

Japanese OoYermmnt but I think it not unl.ilreq that, when it reachu 

them, they will maka • public atate•nt an it in order to ca.ear up tlae1r 

position reprdiDg Amrica an4 prove tbeir aooct faith in their al.liea. 

"It waa not the cue tbat the Britiah Ooftrnmnt lad u'bta!r.84 a cop,y 

ot the Germ.n cl',Pher code, but it vu the eXplau.tioa Ball decicle4 "° sh• 

to the American Government. Ri1k ot the loa• at code-books vu beinl 

taken throughout the var b7 every one ot tbe belliprents, &D4 it would be 

mch better tor the President to ••ppoee that a cow ot the oo4e-book bll4 

come i:a to our banda tba.n that, witbou.t au.ch aaeietance, we ba4 been able 

to read the meaaap1. 

"Ball a.tterwart1 4e1cribe4 the next tew 48.78 u tbe ll09t amc.1ou 

time of tile whole war tar billl per•onaJJy. He had aaaWd a area' 

reaponaib111t7. WCNld it be Juatitie4f Ba4 he done all that vu poaaible 

to sategwn"d R~ 48T Waa there a cbaDce that tbe ZilllaeJ:Dl.DD. tel.elJ"• 

would. mi•firef 

When Am'baaswlor 'Page eent hi• telegram cOAtainiq tb.e IDl11•h ~ ot ~ 

Zimmermann •••ase, he aai4s 

"I shall 1eDd 70'1 'b7 •il a cop,y ot the cipher text aD4 of tlle .. cola 

into Qermn. 

Tbeae were eent tram LoDllon cm March 21 but ot course coul.4 not ban reaoMO. 

, Waabinlton in leH than a week. ID tbe mut1E, atiU vorried about tbe 

authenticity ot the telearam, Wuhinlton aakef.t far a cow ot tbe Oermai& code, u 

1a evidenced by the tollowir.ig telecram: 
REF ID:A62864e 

· Waah1Dgton1 P'eb 28, 1917 

8 p.:m. 

4493. Your 5747, P'ebr'1817 24 - l p.a. Please eDdeavar to obkiD QOP.Y 

at GermaD code from Mt-. !al.tour, decode tollow1ng •••aae• and telearap'b translations. All three me11aage1 are dated Januar,. 111 signed lerutm:tt, 

and a4dreaae4 to tbe Ger-.n Lepti011S at Bogota, Part-au-Prince, 

and Santiago, CbUe, re1119ctively. 

(Bere follow code.meseages.) 

Ettcrt wUl be made to aecure copies ot all German cipher mea1aae• u 

far back as poa1ib1e and if tbe Dei-rtment were :ln posseaaion ot the code 

there would be a great saving ot time am expense. Contents ot meaaagea 

decocled here would ot course be c(l!ID!!1n1catecl to tbe British GOV'91'mnen1;. 

Pu.bl1cation ot Z( 11ae1'Bmn) •a telegram to Mexico tomorrow. 

LANSING 

Page replied& 

LoD40ll, ,March l, 1917 - lJ. p.m. 

(Received March 2, l2t3a a.m.) 

Your 4493, l'e'br\81'7 28 - 8 p.:m. 1'he three m111aces were deciphered 

today and a:re iractically identical. 'naeJ' coutain illltrw::tiODll to the 

three legations to uae a certain YU'iatiOD ot tbe cipher code when 

coamunica.ting with Berlin. 'l'he one to S8.lltiago Y.i&S to be repeated to other 

1'i,asiooa in South America. 'l'be question at our bavinl a COJ!:f ot the cale 

baa been taken up, but tbere appear to be awioua 41ft1cul.tiea. I am tol4 

actual code would be o! no uae to ue u it vu never used strai.Sbt 1 but 

witb a great mua.ber ot variations vbich are known to 01lly one or two 

experts here. 'rhe can not be ape.red to go to .Amrica. If' 70U will •eld 

:me copiea ot »(ernatortt)•a cipher telegrams, the J!ritiah autbor1t1ea will aJ.ad~ 4ecipher them ae quickly as possible giTiDa me copies as fast u 

deciphered. I could telecraph texts or sUJZll&1'1e1 in •tters or 1mpartaace 

a.ad aeml the otber b:;r pouch. Neither Spring Rice nor Gaunt known azl1'tb1D& 

about this matter. 

PAGE 

Mr. Page's 1nf'armant vaa mis1Df'ormed Qr wu mi1lea41.Dg Mr. Page. The co4e 

Z1mmeraml telegrams 
• REF ID:A62864. 

The first SrOUP 11 tbe Dumber ot the telegram, 139 (IC. 1D the 

Ge't'MA.!1 DUll.~iDg aD4 d.atiDC Cocle I in Which tJle P°Ol.\J) 138 8*81U1 

"Number 3"; the Z'inmrmDn telegram wu therefore •••a&e No. 3 trom 

Washington to Mexico Cit7) I and the aecom 1• 13142, 1Dclicat111& tbe 

number of the code uaed. 'l'be laat group )lit tvo i• 97556, which 1• 

Z1-1"ma.Dn 'a sipature. 

'l'his description tallies e:xactJ.r ~th tbe cow ot the telegram u eecU1"e4 

by Mr. Polle from the Wa.ah1ngtan teleF"&ph ottice. 'l'be meaaap 't\"U in 1tr&1ah't 

unencipbered German code, and could be rea4 by &DJ one in pa.sesa1on ot both 

the telegram and the code book. N<.1t only vu the Zimmermnn telegr:aa u aent 

froa Washington to Mexico City in this unenciphered 13fl4S code, bu.t a whole 

mu.J.titude ot maaaaaes between Waahinct;on a.ad. Derliu vere aent in tbe ea.am vq • 

. ,obody can blame J!all for trying to riJ.ace around the crypta.naJ.Jtic teat 

every aec\ll'ity aatea-N be coul4 devi1e. If necessary he would pit ott CD 'the 

wrong trail. ~od7 be thought mipt Jeop!Ll'd1ze security so as to caver t:be 

tracks ot Roam 49. At the tim thia bJ,eocbure (bol.4 up t!le 1-M brochure) vu 

written ve didn't Jmcr.r all tbe facta--we were uaing inferences and maldn& 

deductions. We said: 

Admiral Sir Reginald Hall, in hia atti4av1t before the Mixed Claim 

Ccmml.••1cm, •a14 ot thil code (CJ.ajmen,t•• lb:hibit 321, p. 776)J 

The GermD cipher book covering tbts a19tem ot cipberinl 1a in 

our posaeaaion, it !laving been captured bv the Br1t1ah authar1t1e• 1D 

the Maace ot a Oeran COllSul Dalllld Waauaa who vu ataticnecl at Sbir•Z 

while Wa&DlWIB vu engaged in u endeavor to cut a Britiah oil pipa 11.De. 

-51 .. 
' ~F ID:A62864 

It eeems UDJ.ikeq that a. German cODSul engaged in an expedition to 

cut a pipe line should carry a diplonatic code book 1D bis baggage. -

MoreOYer, the lh"1t1ah copy ot 131148 is t.ras-ntar7, a.M. gives ever.,. evide:u.ce 

ot l'laV'Us been grad'U&ll.y reccmatructed in a ceyptasraphic btu"eau through 

the deciphernimt at ••ease•· A siance at the cow given 17,y the .British 

to the United States ttfter America's entr&DCe into t1- war "llill demonstrate 

tl&ia fact.. 'l'hi• copy containll about halt the vocabulatr;y, but 1a not a 

traDScript of part ot the cede book, since it comprises some vorda a.ad 

phrases f'rcm all the pagea. SOl!le ot tbe 1dent1f'1catiau, too, are mrked 

doubtfUl, An actual caw o'l a code "oook WOUl4 certaila:q not e.xhibi t 

missing and doubttu.l. aeot10DS. 

We f'elt tbat ~e etatement that a "cipher book"·-or at least some sort ot 

cnPtoSl'aphic docu.eiit--wao f'oUJ:K!. ac captured must have contained an element 

ot truth, 'but we cUdn •t know Just bou much, and vhen the British, soon after 

we entered the war I turnecl over to US a COJJ1' of their 13849 Code' they didn 1t 

R7 a.DJth1Dg a.bout its havi.lla been reconatructed upon the ba.sl.a or o;notber 

code that they'd captured. :But that's exactly w:bat tbe;y'cl done, u I bave 

•ince theII eu~bliohed. For inotance, in Ew'iAlg (p~ l.67) we read the followiDSZ 

"WheD the storm. broke in 1914 .. -e.na betare it 'broke·-the country waa 

fortunate, Ewing has often said, in haviilg the ottice C1f First Lord held 

by a. man with the 1Di't1at1ve and strength ot Mr. Churchill. As First Lard, 

Cha-ch.l.l.1 bad wa.tcbed tbe develcprlC.lt ot Boom 4iJ with cuDStaDt intereat 

and ha4 clone macb "o :to.tao :f.t. It was tnic&l at his care and f'oreaig'bt 

~bat he spent almost his laat official hours during the political criaia 

in seeing that bis 8\tccesaor--Mr. Balf'our--ahould lmOW' tull:'f vblt thome 

in Room 4£t were doing and what it implied. 

"To Mr. Dalf'our•.s receptift m:fnd, it also made an illlDediate appeal. 

Be was quick to see its val:ue, and, toir tlat reason, save it his ccmt1Jlual 

attention • 

.. Apart from tbe hCIDB naval sisnala 1 which were their first concel:"n, 

Roca If.I also intercepted mcb long...diata.nce '· .i.i•eleas--corresponde.l.lce with 

Ma4rid, Athens, and Sotia, C001tantinople, aa4 other pla.C"es. There Yel'e 

.. 52-
REF ID:A62864 • 

JIBD1' eaaapa from German acenta iD north and South America. Prom time 

to t:lme Captain Jia.ll p.ve Evhlg mteriaJ. -that proved to 'be z;oli tical in 

origin and substQ.nce. 

"Dur1Dg tbe summer months, cede-books which had been captured 1D 

the Gel"IDB.Q CO'.lSulate a.t Bush1re., were made use ot. Soon it waa i'ouml tbat 

much of the enelll1"'• diplonatic correspondence coUld be read, thus pt'OV'idiug 

a atart.1Dg-point from which to peaetrate1 one after another 1 the GerlllBD 

Fcrreign Office ciphers. 'l'be correspondence at that att1ce, vi th its agents 

abroad, gave very uaefUl. 1Dtarma.tion a.a to tbe eJlelV'S 1.ntentiQU1 and a 

good cleal. ot 1Daigbt into ite methods am psycho1ogr. 11 • 

Note the illuminatillg statement tbat the captured material enabled the workers 

in Room 49 to read DJllCh eneiq dipl.om.tic carrespaalence 1 • nthUs prOYiding a 

start1Dg-poiAt from which to penetrate, one after bD.Other, the German Foreip 

01'.f'ice Ci:pbera • tt 

.Admiral James, too, gives us mu.ch mare specific aDd valuable iDf'orma.tion cm 

I' 

this point: 

"In April scaetbiDg of even greater importance happened. 'lbere came 

into llall.'s bands a cop:r of the German diplomatic code-book-treasure trove 

frcmi Persia. 

"Bov this book reache4 aau ia ODe 'of the strangest stcr1es at the 

war. A naval officer, iDVB.licled from the PersiBn Gulf 1 came to Ball one 

4q and told h1m about o. raid ou the A'badtm pipeline that bad been pl •nned 

b;v' a Oermn vice-consul, named 'Wa.amuas. Nen ot the im,Pen41Dg raid was 

received in time to attack the ra1d1Dg party 1D their ca.mp, and the 

Germn vice-consul got awq in bis w.1ams O.Q. llorseba.ck, leavin& his 

bagage behind. Ball was qUick to see tbat the bagage might contain 

uaefUJ. 1ntcrmat1on, ua, at a result ot bis inquiries, it vu 1'0\mll 1n 

tbe cellars ot tbe Imlia Office. ne sent over Mr. Cozeu Rar41 who wu 

tben wark1Dg with him, to eXl\Jldne the baggage, aD4 he returned with the 

code-book. 

"The code-book was the o.ne used tor meaaaaes between J3erlil1 a.Ill ?-tad.rid, 

aa4 l1erl1n ~Constantinople, and. it vaa via Madrid tbat the Germn Foreign 

-53-
' 

• REF ID:A62864 e 

Office sent their messages to their dipl.aaatic representatives ill North am 

South aDd Ceatral America. Ev~ sillce the special ata.tious had been 1Dter• 

ceptiDg GerJDan uireleaa tra.ttic, & continual flow ot measagea, which trom 

their constructiona were obvioualy not naval meaaagea, ha4 been an-iviDg 

:Lu Room Z.", and ba4 been stowed awq iA cupbC&.l"da • '1'he time had ccme to 

retrieve these piles of uessagea 1 a art them, u4 'begil:l work = them." 

With the aid at our .able archivists I •ve been able to dig out ot the ol4 

files ot Warl4 War I aenBn Code l3fJ4.iJ; here it is. It•a an 1Qtereat1Dg 

document. 

!ut to get back to the Z1mmerm.rm 'relesram itself' again, J'OU will recall 

that I said it was publisbecl :1n au the illportB4t nevapapera in the va:rld. on 

March lst, 1917. :tn pro-GerDm circles the telelt"&m va.s illl:Dedia.tel.J 4eAOWJ.Ced 

as a fcrserJ. Atter acrimonious de~te a resolution was paesed by the Ccmgreaa 

that the P.reaident be aeked to state tbe, source ot ~ iDf-arDBtion. He replied. 

the same eveniDg through bis Secretary Of State u follad: 

"The OoverD:me11t is 1D posaesli5i04 of evidence which established the 

fact that the note referred to 11 autheJltic, am. tbat it ia 1D the 

poaseaa:l.au at the United States; an4 tbat the eT14ence was ;pl'OCUl'e4 'b7 

this GoverQlllent dui-ing the put veek, but tbat it :la in m:f opinion 

incCJllJ:18.tible With tbe p1&blic interest to 1em to the Senate at the 

pruent time, 9J1y further iDfor-.tion ~ poeeeaeion of the Government 

ot tbe United States relative to tbe note mentioned in the reaolutim ot · 

the Senate. 

"'l'his utterly disconcerted the pro-German press, and most ot these 

newspapers vere tarced to rec.ant. Yet 1 in private, tbe word •far:ger7• 

waa atill 'being freeJ.1 used, a.ad it continued to be used until, late 

on tbe evening ot March 21 the Geram otf'1cial virele1a cont&l.Decl 

Z1mermml's :t'ro.nk a4m18s1on that tbe note wu genuine: 
REF ID:A62864 • 

'"l'he Alm'icau Presa contai.Da repcrt1 about 1natructiOD1 from the 

Jll:l.ni•tlT ot Fareip Aff&U'a to the Germn H1niater at Mexico Cit7 1D 

cue Gerazq after the pl"OClamtiOD of unreatr1cted aumarine warfare 

ahwld :f'a.11 to keep the United Statea neutral. 

"'.rbeae reports are baaed cm the follow1.J:ll facts: -

"After the decision taken to begin wxreaw1ctec1 au'bmarill.e warfare 011 

Febrl1&1'7 lat, we ba41 1D v1ev ot the irevious attitude ot the .Amrican 

Qavenlmnt, to reckon with the poa11bil1t7 ot a ccmtllct with tbe Unitecl 

States. Tlat thia calculation vu r1gbt 11 proved b7 tacta, 'becauae the 

American Gavermnent severed diplcimtic rel&tiou with Oerma.rq aoon atter 

the procla-.t1on ot the ba'rre4 zone am uked other neutrale to Jo1D 1A 

tla11 4em.rche. 

"Ant1ci:pa.ting theae poss1bilitiea, it vas Dot onl7 tbe rigbt but the 

clut:r at our GOYer.ament to take precautiou in tm, ill tho eYeAt ot a 

warlike ccmtlict vi~ tbe United SW.tea, in Ol'der to 'bal.aace it poasi'bl.e 

the adhesion at our enemea to a new aeJQ"• 1n. Oeran 1Un1ater ia Mex1co 

wu therefore, in the m1.clc1le ot J&mlll.1"1', inatructecl, should the Un.1te4 

State& declare 'WU' 1 to otter the Mexican GOYermmnt an al.111.Dce u4 UT&llP 

further detaila. 

"'l'heae iutruct1om 1 'b)' tbe vq, expreaaq en301De4 the Minister to 

mU DO a4va.nce1 to the Mexicu Oovermaent ualeal be knev fer a cert&11l't7 

that America vu aoinc to decla.t"e war, Bov tbe Amlricau GovermDeD'\ 

received intormaticm ot 1Datructiona seat 'b7 a aecret W&J to Mexico 11 

not Jm.awn, but it appeara that treache17 (am thi.8 can onJ.t be the cue) 

baa been ccaai"t'ted on American territ017. '' 

he 1184e the foolish apologf tor hi• inept ccmduct. 'l'hie wu hi• eecoa4 ll"&ve 

a.a a tarpq, a trawl, tbe product ot 'Br1t1ab 4upl1c1t7 aa4 cb1cuer7--even 1t 

onlJ to smoke the Bl'1t1ah out aD4 l8ke them ircve the authenticity ot the 

teleara 'b7 diaclosiDg exac~ how the •••ace aD4 the information om1i&iae4 1D 

it ba4 been obtained. 

-55-
.,,;...... ...... ,.... 

'-. REF ID:A62864 e 

How couJ.4 such a :aaiTe man as Herr ZimmerlD&Wl was rise to ~ head ot the 

ForeiSll Ottice ot a creat amt powerful atatef It will bar~ astonish you 

that Zimmermann continued to uae Code 13~9--and that he aoon loat hi• job aa 

Fareign Miniater. 

"American reaction to the publication ot the telegr&lll can be seen 1n 

a meaaage aent to Ball by Gaunt on March 6i 

GAUNT TO BALL. 

tt0n the Friday n1aht March 2Ild I vaa the guest at tbe •Roua4 Tal>le', 

which of cour.te it tbe bottest atui't in Nev Yark in that line: it cOD1iet1 

or about thirty members, and about eighteen attended. Choate vu in the 

chair, aDd Root, Wickeraham, Olin, MUburn aD4 other men at that tne were 

in the i-.rty. Atter 4inner they all drew their cbaira up round the tire and 

vent r~ me. Choate openly said that the Zimmerm6Uu note vu a farpry, 

and was practical.17 naanimoual.1' supported by the whole bunch. I poi.Jrted 

out that both the President aDd h1s right hand man had given their ward that 

they knew it vaa not, and tba.t it should be accepted as genuine. Choate 

tben aaid that he thought a. camaittee of Congressmen and Senator• shou.lcl 

be given the proofs, and I atuck to it that it would be moet UDWUe where 

men's lives were involved to give any d.etall.t to men like Stone, Follette, 

O •Garan, etc., and tbat turned the tide 1D rq taTOUr. They had to a4ait 

that I was right. Root then turned to me aud aUed me if I waa •&t1at1e4 

that it vu a. genuine thing--and at the same time Choate asked me point 

blaok Whether I kDew anything &bout it. I objected to tbe latter que•·tion.1 

but as 1113 reply le:rt them tairq convincecl that I did ltnOW', I then told 

them that inf'orma.tion bad been conve,.ed to me b)t' U.S. authorities, that 

I was satisfied tbat the note vaa correct, and a litt.le surpriae4 tlat 

they should cros1 ... m1ne • CG it inaUtad ot accept:lnc the ward. at their 

President. 'l'bat carr1e4 the 4q conqW!tcly. The above is an 1llua'Vation 

of the ve.y it was received. aYer here, n~-''l..,tMn out at tvent7 •n believed 

it waa a. targery, aD4 ha4 not ZiJIJnerlDsnn IJODm out w:tth his •tatem.nt Oil 

Saturday, I thick it would have done ua a Gr'eat deal ot harm. Aa it vu, 

it was a complete aucceH 1 because Viereck, Ritter aDll all the rest at 

the 1nkslinger1 just bad time to get their yarn into ti. papers, pointina 

out how obviously it vu a Britieh take, when Z1-'m.Jm•a statement 

knocked the bottom out at everythi.Qg." 

"Wben, during the aU.equent dec!lte in the Sena:~ on the Armed 

Neutrality Bill, only thirteen oppnnenta could be f<JIUDI, Ball felt 

fairly confident. Thia 'little SJ!'OUJ> ot vutul mm•, u tbe Pl"eaident 

called them, were a~ to t&lk out the meuure, )N't * t"l 1-. at the 

American nation had been •h<Ml in no uncertain mane~. 

-56-
REF ID:A62864 ~ 

"War vu inevi t&ble, but Ball was a till a prq to awci•t7 lnt all 

hie efforts to aa.tegUard Rom 4t would irove- to be im4equate. le lmev 

the Oermana voul.4 ate IVU.WlUI ettart1 to cU.eoowv tbe truth. It WU 

1.lltportant to preTeDt pu1'11cat10D ot the Ger-.n ~ ot ~ ....... 1A 1ta 

entiret7, and this Ball vu able to do. Dr. Pap vrote to i.n.1D11 

"The autharitie1 directly' concerned would prefer that the Geran. 

text 1hould no"t be publ.1.shed, as ita publication in entirety voul4 

1n41cate that our GoYernment or •ome o"tber jlart1•• are able to deqpher 

the OerDIUl code ued in ita tranalll.aaian tran Wuhiuctoa to Mexico &114 tbe 

Gernane would then oeue u.ing it eJ.sevbere. 'J!tl,1a 11 1Dtcr-.t.1cm. wllich, 

judging 'b7 ZillDerJl:mm •1 reported 1tatemnte, tbe7 91' 1U1pect voul.4 l»e ot. 

great value to 1thea. At present the CJermu cazmot lmov exactq vbU'e 

ar ho!i the leak occurrecls tor &ll the;y lmCM a COflT ot the meaaap m:t haft 

been loat or remored trcm tbe Oermau Babuay in WaahtnctoD1 ar 'the leak 

aight b&Ye occurrtld between Berlin &DI! Wuhinctcm. 

"Were serioua dwlJta 'beiq cut in America on the aJe!lUiDeDU• ot 

tbe instru.ctiona to the Germ.n Miniater 1n Mexico the authoritie• here 'Si.cht 

reconaider their poa1t1oo., but as Z~ i.. a411itted tbeir puui.Dene•• 

in the Reicbstag thia can bard~ 'be the cue." 

'l'bat ilS what Ball gre&tl.7 fee.red Youl.4 happen... .. °Wt hia fears turned out 

to be groundless. 

ActuaJ.l.7 the firat lttt1.ng ot the curtain ot aecreq wu veey 1entlaJ it 

vaa only a veiled hint, a fact. So tar ae I •ve been able to learn frOll earetul 

research, it occurred in a lecture on 19 Jul7 1921, OIJlT 4 ;years atter 'the 

event& we are cOMider1D& happened. The l~t"Jl'e waa 4el.1vered on the occuicm. 

ot the grantins of" an honor817 4egree to Sir Matn"ice 1aD1111t7, n.c.»., s•C1"6az7 

ot the CClllllittee of Imperial Deteue, ~ L<llnburgh University on 19 JUl7 1921. 

I quote trOill hi• addreea on thi• occaa1or;. as reported ill tl:le Sootea!l ot 

Ed.inburgh, on th&t datei 

If There was one other nam to which he wiaAed to refer, Sir Maurioe 1&1.a.. 

-57-
\, . .• ... \. ,.,,...... J 

,, .v ~ ' 

' REF ID:!l62864. 

'?here were some U1 tile war who at all time.a were iD the ll.ElightJ there were ,, 

otmra who wcrked iD obacurity. There was DO D&E which deserve« .greater honour,, 

\1 .. -

~/ \ ,.. : am no an did greater service 1n that catesm7 to bis country than their 

-c. · ·~ !...: ... l'' t 

'\ \ Vice-Chancellor am Pr1DC1pal., Sir Alfred Ewing. , I 

~- ' 

~ 

Thia wu Jwtt ,a little lifting of' the veil. '!be next lifting ot tlae veil, 

ao tar aa I mve been able to f1D4, was in a •imilar aort ot lecture a"bo\df tvo 

' ;year1 later, when Mr. LlQJd George, on the occasion ot h1• ad4reaa • Lard 

Rector ot D!iD'burgb Uuiverait7, m4e the tollcwiD& raaru reapomlina to a 

,. 

"Universit)'"'e C~tribut1m to the War. . -

"In tbe atterDOOn Mt-. LlOJd Oeorae vu tbe pest e.t l.uncbem 1D the 

Student •a Union. There vu a c~ ot about 281, preaided OMr bJ' 

Mr. A. J. M. Bu'tler, Preaiden'\_ Of the Union. 

"Mr. Llo~ Georp, in re1pondius ~o '\be tout ot his bea.1.th, a}lQkct 

ot the great part t'be UQi,veraity ·bad ~ 1D the wr, Aat oalJ' 'bJ' tbe 

contribution ar ber ·so.is, but ~ the realm of science. In the ad the 

bra.1.Ds at Drita.1.D.'a Univerait;J.ea beat those ot the Germans. b.11" 

Principal •a d1scoveriea, the organisation whicll he aet up., wbat Jr.e 

discavered by means Of tbe arpnisa.t1oa., 'brougbii to their knovledp 

things ·without which the Fleet coul.U nQ\. '1a.ve operatel auccesafUUJ'; 

v1thout wbich 1t woul4 have been difficult for the an~i-1:1ubm.riDe 

campJ.i&J. to be carried out. 'I sa.y- mol'e tban tbat.' (cOJltlDued the 

speaker) • ''It is. bis vork that pve U8 tbe intar•tion which ultiate]¥ 

brought America into tbe var. (Cheer•) ~t ator)' will one 4q be 

told .. •" 

And about tour montba later ?Ir. Churchill, one at thoae u:p® \them: 

Bdinburgb University vu conf'erritla honorary dqreu, 1ai4 the :toll0111Da, u 

reported 1n The ScotlllBD ot l2. July 1923: 

-58-
REF ID:A62864e 

"Concluding Mr. Churchill pa.id a tribute to the chair-.n, (Prat. 

Ewing) tar his services in the Admiralty. The Vice-Chancellor, he 1&141 

mde a contribution to the attairs ot the Mm:lralt71 and to the fortune• 

of the State, which might almost be called ineatiable 1 if on4' froa the 

tact that it had never been recognized. Durue the ~-o.r no one did hia bit 

mare tbarougbl.)" in the whole at the vut building in Whitehall tban Sir 

A1.tre4 Bvi.Dg." 

'l'here followed a nuch mare revealing atoey 1n tbe Hendrick account publiab.e4 

iD tbe November 1925 issue of War.lit's Work; 13-14 years later the son ot Altred 

Ewing published bis 'book entitled 'l'he Man of Room 41 J and finaJ 17, 48 :f9&l'B 

after the event came Admiral James ' book. I've used all these sources. 

But now I can add a few details which may be iiitereating in coJDlflction 

vi th the Oerml1 diplaaatic codes at those days. 

The GermBll system ot distributing variow, codea and ciphers prOYid.ed t.be 

embuaiea, inclwliJll tbe military and :aaval attachea, With tirat-pwle two-part 

codes of 101 """ groups. There were about ten ditterent oaea, tar aeparate 

geographic areu. Legations and cODBulatea were provi4ed Yith aeccm4-sra4e 

codes vbich were &ppl.1"•11.'tl.7 all derived from a baa1c larp one-part coda °b1' 

shuttling or randomizing whole pa.pa of 118 grou.ps, &ad b7 a 1 tw11 ar •art at 

ahuftling ot bloclra ot 11 on each pap. There were several aw:b Hlli-rmllCllllizecl 
• REF ID:A6286. 

the one captured from Wasmuss, or 1 as Cmlr. Demi11tcm called him., "Mr. Wllat 

Hult". Another version, known aa Code 13848, waa far Western Bamiaphere c01D.111icaticm.s, and the.t is vq that cOde was used far tbe Zimmermann Telegram vben 

'Bernatortt in ltfuhiDgtoil vu obliged and regarded it aa hi• 4uty to forward 

the content• at tbe arigiDal. version of the telecraa, a vwraion that vaa in one 

at the first-grade 18,888-group, two-pa.rt codes knovn u Code 75••· ~ 4J:4n•t 

Z1ft!ml.!l"DBDD send the me•sage frO!ll »erliD. directq 1D Code 13'41, instea4 ot. mldns 

Berutortt repeat it 1D another code. I don't Jmav tlJe am1wer to that. It'• 

poaaible he did but I ver7 much doubt it.. You might uk whether it couJ.dA•t have 

been in its 13"40 clothing '"rhen it was sent via ''the Sncl11b Roumabou.t". 

Bernatortt ·~ in bis book, !SY Three Years 1D .Amrica (19gfl, p. 38.ra: 

"I bad nothing to do with the Mexico telearam, vbich took a cam;pl.ete~ 

by slll"piise. It wu a4dreaaed 1 in the wsual wq, 41rect to the leptioa 

in Mexico, and ;riassed tbrough the Fmba.ssy at Washington on the 8UI! 4ay 

on which I received tbe not~ication that the unrestricted U-boa.t war vu 

to be declared. I ha4 neither the riaht, 11ar wu it ~ duty, to hol4 up 

the telegram, although I disapproved ot its contents. But even it I had 

held it up, I should have served no usef'u..1- :purpoae. A8 I aftervar4a :bee.r4 

from a. certa:ln English-.n, there was an office in England Yb1ch dec1pbere4 

all the telegrams vhich we sent over the Englisb. cable 1 a.nd this office 

placed all their intercepts at the disposal of tlle Amrican Gcmtrnmmat after 

the ruptUl"e ot diploatic relations. There is nothing aurpria1ng 1D tlai1, 

for we al.Go deciphered all enelllf teleg1:c.··~ which we were able to intercept. 

Nowadays there 1a no cipher vbicb ia abeolutel.T •ate, U it bu 'been tD me 

tar aome tiE. At that ti• 1 however, I d 1.d not lmow 'hat all our ci}'llar 

telegrams were be1Jlg read by the Ene;lisb. If, therefore, I bad held up the 

Me:idco telesram 1n Washington, its contents would haft been reve&le4 w the 

American Government 'bJ' the Engliah, nctwitbatanding, and no one voul.4 have 

believed that the message bad not been forwarded iu ~ome way to Mexico.• 

-55-
!

._, 

,, 

REF ID:A62864e 

ZiDaermml'a message to Eckhardt aDd that if he bll4 held it up in Wubiaatcm 

it• con.tents would nevertheless have been reftal.ed to ua b7 t'be Eagl.iah-- 4oean•t 

this practicalJ.7 eatabl.iah the tact that the co4e ill wb1dl it c- to hill vu 

- in Code 75ee llDd in tbat code on:qt l thiDk it does. It a.lao eatabl.1ahea 

the f'aet, I feel aure 1 that tt the •••aae real.ly M4 beeD. aent rt& "tbe SWeduh 

Roundabout" tt was in Colle 75fJ8 and vu an exact d.uplicato of the •••aae he 

received via the State Depa.rtmllt route. 

By the vay, I think ;you my- be interested to learn that a 11 ttle further 

OD in his book Bernatorft Bq& I 

1

'Froa the experience pined during tbe war, we ba:ve learmd. that the 

diplomacy of the future will neTer be allowed to re:cy, far important mttera, 

upon the secret ot a cipher J for skilful eXperta &N nov able to 41ecover 

the •?I ti complicatecl code, prartcled that tbeJ' are able to intercept a 

aufticient number at telegratlUI." 

I• 11 add a final ward on the point wey the Zimlllermalui 'telegram was sent 

from :Berlin to \:anhington in Code 75910 and not 1D Code 1384.1. I think it was 

:Bernatortt to know vhat he ms cooking ttp wi1.h lck.h&rdt in Mexico Ci t7. ~ 

een4 two aepara'te telegrama--one to Eckhardt and one to Bernator:tt? Wh1' not 

JUI~ one to Jernatcr.tt ud. give tbe. latter tbe hea4acbe or re-encocUng the text 

-56-
REF ID:A62864. 

aD4 'forwarding that text (in l3S46) to Eckhardt. Save moo.ey that WY' 1 vouldn •t 

he. What did Zimmermnn know about cryptography aD4 the dewger of sendiDC CNt 

the alUl'e text in two different for• t nothing, obVioual:,y. Note how the ar111ml 

111Bssage trOlll. Berlin starts: 

"Most Secret. Far Your Excellency•u personal i.Dtor•tion and forwarding 

to the Imperial Minister in Mexico by a sate r°"te .. " 

All the 4&ta I've given ;you prove, I feel cpite 1ure, that the Z:lmllerm.Dn 

Telegram waa never sent :!ram Berlin either to Washington ar to Mexico Cit7 in 

Cole l3•4B. !ad :Bernatartt not farvarded the contents of tbe :meaoap in 7518 

it 11 very doubt:f'ul in Jiii' mind that the notarioua Zimmer-.nn Tele;raa vou.14 bave 

been decoded in .aearly so short a '\ime as it was. Alllo, the so1ut1oJl ot Cede 75•• 

would have take.a more tinie--the poasession at the 13s4.ra iaolog r.:uti t !lave helpe4 

a great deal. Ill ::;hort I the c:ircwusto.n~~b I cryptologic snd diplomatic, am the 

CODllllWl::lcatious sy&tE.•111s were such that the cor.1,tents of' the ZirmnernE.!ll'l Telecram 

were discovcre'-1 just in the n.ick. ;;f time. 

Code 89726, the one captuted rrom "J.:r. ~i'i.:'"°t Must", was used in Pm-aia and 

the Iifea.r East. ?!.lt- Bl'1t1sh had cop'fes of ~a.ff'ic between :Berlill am Persia. It 

.57 .. 
REF ID:A62864. 

1• curiou that even tben tlle Qel'aDll 41cln•t teel too Ate 1n uaiDg it bec&ue 

tbe7 \lle4 a stril11 at 7 to 17 or mare d1a1t• as an a441t1ve tar cm:cy- the .,.t 

1ecret parts at the teleP'ama. The Bl'iti•h solved tboa• a4dera, too, but they 

never tOUD4 CNt bov Berlin sent them to Persia. It .:, ot couree be 'tha"t the 

OeraDB didn't ~ trut the cOlle clel'ka an4 ~ the CODa\ll. or 1Un11ter 

la:lm&clt bad the addera. 

SiDce Room. 4S poa1essed 89736 all tratf'1c received waa ot course r-4able 

aDd much 11&e.fUl inf or.mat ion in tbe Middle &1.st vu obtained. But, tM vorlrer1 

1D Room 4S noted the appearance ot l3S4S at f'U'at in intercepte4 le'tta'a to ud 

tram variaw. legationa ill Soutb. Amrica, and later, after they ba4 d1accwere4 

the liaiaon between Berlin am Stockholm, they began to collect eDOUigh cable 

•teriaJ. to start research on thie, new book, am a vert 8all ataf'f', iDcludiJIS 

4e Orey and Mo.otgoniiery undertook this vork. 

They verE> o!: rourse "f'amillo.r wi.th 09736 a.lid soau came to tho cQWllasica. 

that the :Qe\.?' boo.k vu ~ similar conatruct1on 'but •baleVbat. shorter. ...,b •terlal 

vu necessary to complete 'the 1oJ.ution of thll book, u !!!£7. new F.SNI U..t1tie4 

required conf'irllation. 
REF ID:A62864 • 

'l'bus, ~til all the acrambline; at ~es aDd blocks of 10 •a on pagea bad became 

unscrambled to produce o. clean and straightforward one-1Jart 13114eJ coae, much work 

bad to be done and there had to be a geed accumulation at m.terial requ'lred tar the 

conf'1rmat1ons at correct numbering of pases and blocks on the pages. 

I told you sa:ie minutes age that Sir Al.f'red Ewiilg, the m.n who organized Room lt.fJ 

a.ml got the vork going so success~, left Room 4S two )leers later to return to 

bis old University or Blinburgh, wl1ore he now took office as Princ:!.!JB.l. In Ewins'• 

aon•s book an epiaccle is mentioned (p. 2157) which JDa7 interest :fOU& 

"Some mc..:i.tbs a.f'ter (the American declaration at war OLl Germnny) 1 vhen 

Page waa iJei.i.1g preaented at Fdinburgh with an honorary degree, EwinS was 

llllWled, but .aot at all surprised, to find tba.t the Ambaaeadcr knew nathing 

at his connection with Room 40. tlor va.a he eDligbtened--al.thaugb the7 bad 

a 'delight:rul ta.lk on other ma:tters • • " 

-59-
\ REF ID:A62864e 

ImrURE NO. 3 

MAKING THE MOST OF A CRYPl'OLOOIC OPPORTUNITY. 

PART 1 

Introduction to the Walter Cronkhite Television Story Entitled 

"The Secret Messa.se that Plunged America into War!" 

one of the episodes ·of his ''You Are There'" Program 

;presented over the TV network 

on 

1957-

I imagine that for many of those present this morning tbe name Alfred 

Zimmermann, German Minister of Foreign Affairs in Berlin in the years 1914-1917 

is not one that arouses much interest; in f'act, I doubt that the name means 

anything to moat of you. Yet,, this gentleman, of whom I find it difficult to 

say "may his soul rest in peace", was the diplomat wh~e~lumsy 8.Dd]un1magtnative 

conduct of German foreign affairs in tbe three critical years I •ve- mentioned a,...._J_ ~ 

wl'~ ~~i\: ~ e~ 

J "brought the United 'States of America into World War I as an active belligerent 

~~ - '-1~~~~~~~~~. on the side of the Allies/\ The might of the United States could easily have been 

tl:Jrown on the other side--during the critical months of the year 1916--had 

ZimmerDBDil been more astute. The consequences of such an event can hardly be ... ... . 

imagined. I would be an understatement to say that possibly the course of 

history would have been changed in a spectacular menner. 
- -------~--~~~~~~~~--------------------

REF ID:A6286. 

What did Herr Z1.Dmerma.nn do or tail to do to merit so strong a statement 

as the one I've Just mad.et What he did was to send a tel.egram on 16 January 1917 

to the German Ambassador in Washington--a telegram which was in Germn enciphered 

code and which was intercepted and solved by the British cryptanalytic unit in 

London. What he failed to do was to see to it that the cryptosyetem that bad to 

be used to encrypt his message was technically sOUDd enough to protect its 

contents. Be did and failed to do something else in connection with his now 

ta.moue mese.age--but of that, more later. 

In order to prepare a proper background tor the Zimmermann Telegram ot 

16 January 1917--tbat's what it's called in history--! should give you a brief 

ward-picture of the situation fran the outbreak of the war, on l August 1914, up 

to the day the telegram was sent. The picture I'm going to depict is a condensation ot the. excellent story set forth on pa.gee 22 and 23 ot Admiral Sir 

William James' book ent.i:tled The Eyes of the Navy, published in London in 1.955· 

By 1914 England had becane so dependent on sea-borne imports that her people 

couldn't live, let alone wage war, for more than. four or five weeks after ber 

sea-routes were broken. Keeping these routes open was therefore the principal 

task of the British Navy. On the other band, her principal enemy, Germany, was 

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REF ID:A62864 

not dependent on sea-borne imports, so that the British Navy's historic function 

of arresting an enemy's sea-borne trade lapsed after German shipping had found 

refuge in neutral ports. 

There were then the British Grand Fleet and her 118.!'dl.y much interior protagonist, 

the German Bigb Seas Fleet, glaring at ea.ch other at a distance, and, although the 

Grand Fleet was becoming impl.tient and spoiling far a fight, the Germans didn't 

dare risk their fleet in major battle, confining their attacks to sporadic forays 

by fast units and to minelaying. 

German hopes of quick victory were shattered when trench warfare in France 

brought things to e. stalemate, and with the passing of each month it became clear 

that there could be no victory far Germany unless British overseas trade was cut 

off. Someone high up in the Govermnent then bad wbat appeared to be a good idea. 

The success of the German small sub flotilla of 1914 pointed the way out 

without risking their Higb Seas tl.~ets and the good idea was to give highest 

priority to building submarines and use them to destroy British and all other 

shipping to and ~rom the British Isles. 

Now it happened that civilized r':lles ot maritime wa.rf'are required that no 

merchant ship be sun..~ without warning, and before the crew could take to life 

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REF ID:A62864e 

boats. Observance of these rules had hitherto been recr~ired by both belligerents 

but for Germany this of course severly reduced the destructive power of their 

submarines and from time to time their commanders were ordered to ignore them in 

the case of the British merchantmen. But there were bound to be mistakes am the 

ships of neutrals were sunk. This brought a wave of resent:irsnt against the German 

Government and there were acrimonious notes to that government, especially from the 

American Government, when her ships were sunk and specious excuses were given for 

such sinkings. American antagonism we.s heightened by the discovery of plots a.cd 

sabotage activities of German agents in America. 

The powerful German submarine of'f'ensive in 1916 soon began to take a dreadful 

turn for the British when the daily toll of their shipping losses was so heavy that 

unless some new tide set in -- or unless tbe United States of America could be 

drawn into the wazo on the Allied side -- there could be only one end to it, and 

that end would come soon. 

The probl.em then was two-fold: (l) To labor prodigiously to gain mastery over 

the German submarines, but this, it was recognized, would be a slow, a very slow, 

process; (2) to -cry not to irritate or antagonize the United States and certainly 

not to exasperate America as the Germans were, in the hope that the latter would 

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REF ID:A62864 

sooner or later, the sooner the better, goad the Americans into joining the war 

against Germany. The British were fortune.lie in both respects. It turned out that 

thanks to the tremendous exertions of British shipbuilders, scientists, and sailors 

mastery over the submarines was attained but not until early in 1918. With this 

phase of the British problem e.s I've just stated it, we shall not concern ourselves 

today. It is with the other pbase o:f' it that nry talk will deal. 

Let's see bow the Germans behaved so as to outrage practically a.11 Americans 

and make President Wilson ask Congress to declare war on them. 

During the f'irst year of' submarine warfare the German Government respected 

the rights of neutral 11ations but when faced with the prospect of losing the war 

unless all imports to the British Isles were cut off, it made a fateful decision. 

On 1February1917, it announced that as of that date German submarines would 

sink at sight ALL ships met on the high seas. 

What did President Wilson do cm receipt of the German proclamation? Why, 

on 3 February he informed German Ambassador von Bernstorff that his c~eer in the 

United States vas e.t ab end--the United States had severed diplomaliic relations 

with Germany. Von Berustarf't' wasn't given much tin:e to pack his belongings and 

go home. 

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REF ID:A62864 

Of course, Britain had hoped that the United States would now join the we.r 

against Germany. The American position we.a quite humiliating because it was clear 

that she could not give her own mercha!ltmen any protection whatever, that is, she 

couldn't without going to war and Presicent Wilson had promised to keep America 

out of the war • Hence, after the German declaration of unrestricted submarine 

warfare American ships kept within American harbors because they were afraid to 

leave and become helpless victims of submarine torpedoes--with large losses in 

life to be expected. As I've said, President Wilsen was determined to keep America. 

out of war; Just like the Scandinavian and certain other countries in Europe were 

keeping out of it. But his position was a very difficult one; his own ambe.ssador 

in London wrote in his diary: 

"I pl"edict that the President cannot be made to lift a finger 

for war--until the Germa.ns should actually bombard one of our ports. It's 

cowardice or pacifism tbat holds him back every time--Jei'fersonianism." 

On the whole,, America.n. sympathies were with the Allies but the f'eeli:cgs of 

a large Gerimm-American population had to be taken into account, especially when 

British high-banded action, every once in a while, severely prejudiced their case. 

So the U.S. official attitude and position was, as I've indicated, very difficult. 

One writer, commenting on President Wilson's conduct, said that he "was hesi-:ating 

on the brir..k of war, reluctant to plunge into it, clinging painfully to the idea 

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REF ID:A62864 

of strict neutrality which se~"!led to be almost a part of his religion. 11 

But maybe a bit of politics got mixed up with the religion because, as 

same of you may remember, the Democratic slogan for President Wilson's campaign 

far a second term was "he kept us out of war". And let 9 s not forget the other 

f'amous explanation be gave for keeping out of war--his statement that "there is 

such a thing as being too proud to fight!" 

There was another factor we must keep in mind. For a large part of the 

United States, especially the Middle and F&r West, the war in Europe was 3,CBe!S 

miles across the Atlantic--it might as well have been on another planet so f&r as 

the people who lived in those parts of our country were concerned. 

Then came the "cryptologic opportunity" which formed the principal part of 

the title of~ talk this morning, and which, overnight, it seems, the episode 

involving the interception and solution by the British of the Zimmermann Telegram 

entirely changed the picture. 

Now, historians may disagree as to why the United States became a belligerent 

in World War I; some of "Chem even believe that we went in on the wrong side. But I 

think that most historie.ns would now agree tbat it was the solution of the Zimmermann 

Telegram and the brilliant way in which the British used it that brought the Unii;ed 

States into the war when she was brO".ight in, and bro~ in on tbe side of the Allies. 

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The whole episode is replete witb drama., and it bas been reported in a really 

drama.tic manner on a recently presented TV program. that was one in the series of 

t.istorical episodes recounted on Walter Cronhite•s "You are 'J:here! 11 Some of you 

may have seen it when the program was presented "live"; some of you may have seen 

it as recorded on motion-picture film, a copy of which I've borrowed from the Office 

of Training and that film we now are about to see and hear. I 1d like to add that 

the Zimmermann Telegram of 16 January 1917 was the subject of a radio broe.dcast 

by the British Broadcasting Corporation only as recently as 26 May 1958. I'm 

trying to get a transcript of that broadcast. I mention this to shuw1 you that 

the Zimmermann Telegram is quite a live subject today--42 years later! 

Now let•s have Walter Cronkhite 1s ''You a.re There!" account of the Zimmermann 

Telegram episode which he presented under the title "The secret message that 

plunged Au:erica into war." 

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