~ ... ,. .· 

-

,,,.. 

.. 

_ _REF ID: A6337 4 

a"1:::· \NfuJ~f'lc.e- o\= · f!..-Powe.~• o,.J M 1Sro~f' 

JBJTURE NO. 3 

MAKING THE MOOT OlP A CHIPrOLOGIC OPPORTUNITY. 

~-[PART 1 - \Nll'<.o.J)uGr10N 

li'\;:·:t~-;he Walter Cronkhite Television Stgey Entitled 

";m; Secret Message that Plunged America into Wart'' -

one ar the episodes ar hia "You Are There'" ~,... b~ ~c=c-ch..,.., ~-41&__, :a-eaented C'Ner the .. 'J!'I network r< 

' ~-

- ----~-

:..J 
. be -.a. to enon:pt hi.a JIUnp vu t.ecbJlicall.J ..oW.1 eDoUgb to protect its 

" . ~ ~ ~ ~ h ~~·~>~~lJJ>~ ?-'-·tkt-~nt~~ ~~ f~ cqll'ffnta. A.• 4¥- am t".uek' to dJ •omathine: elie in ciormeqicn lfith his now 

r.,. ... ) 

·~ + ' ~ ID. ~ to pte,Pare a ~r 'baclrgrO\Ulll tor the z-t-..n-MeJm 'falegram ot 

'J. 

+picture '1t tl:;\e aituatlon f'rc:a tbe .. cntbreak o'f tlle var, c:ci. l August 1914, up 

,~ - y\-~.r ~~ ·"\..~ 

to AU 1114 \!Mt telearu waa eeat. ~::»*'"'='" ~~,ptnc to .daptu:L: -~ ... 

- ' "'1 

) 

aea-r<Nte• lido '\lroUa. Kaepin,g ._." ro\rtea O»eJ1 vu therilt'ore the principal r .- + " ' ; 

-2- --
REF ID:A63374 

not depmdent aa --bclnie 1.a,parta,, 10 'th&t the .Brituh Bav;y'a hi•toric :tunction 

' 

Tbm'e ~)~,.,the Br!tiall Grand :rl.8et an4 her h.aNq much 1Jlfer1ar pro\agoniat, 

, ;,~ .. ,,... .. ~ 

'\lie Clermn ll1gh Seu P'l.eetNSJ..*ri:og at each ~ at a 41atanc~, ~,, <hough the 

,. .. , n t ~ i.. • \ \ °"i r '· :...~ ;...:( ,.. _,. _. 1 LS:,, (._.. -..... +'°_...r ' ...,, """-'ii< /'\ ~ "' "J f J ~- l ~ ~). 

- \ '. Ger-.n hopea ot qui.cit victory were &battered wt.en trench warfare in FrallCe 

" ·tt...~ ""~ brought .. ill'" g -=~ a a~ellllte,. d fth ...,,_:passing Ilia••* month it became olear 

' ~-~ that tJi,ere cou.lA be no,.Tictory .qu;,rae&if UQJ.esa llritieb overseas trade was cut 

- ~~.;.. •<ti~ ~~{;J,.~ ~~fi~ l..l~- ~ \~¢--R~ ~ .. Oft. ~ti~ a ~1&> 119'._._ /'~~ •• _.---. 111• wi.t appeare4 to be a good 140,'tfl.(;~ 

\°;\ ~ ~ ~~q\l..t ~f-·f(4 _,Y;~" _.· 

'(,tl\.,i-K~~·ucces~ the Ger.mi sm.ll. aub4l.otil.la ~ J.911&. ~the way out / 

, ~ . '::P .!'-~ ·- 6.1.~~fvi..j..,,, •. "*-' ~ ~~-- ~;~__-: ~ ~tk~~: /.,_.,,,_~,~. 

'Vitbout risld.aa' the_.. ID4b sMs t~+.i •...... 1t .. "gtllli1·iM...r ._to give lUPat / ' ~ -

~v 

~A ~ 

pei01'-1ty to bui~iDC ~~~s -~ -~~.~~~-U:tr07 llritiah ~::vo~ 

-- - l abippilig 

___ to~ the Briti•b I•J.ee. .. ........--.-.- - - - .............. __,,. ...... - - ___._. _ .... -' 

"-3-
REF- ID:A63374 

. 

boats. 8'Asct vu.---or ~-y.ese rules =~:;.-~ . a-·M•ired by both belligerents 

~ $ ~ but :tar" Ger~ this ••c: zn-7everl.y reduced the destructive power ot ~ 

-~,~~a-~~~~~ iM(~"~~'\ submarines and f'rom ti.mo to time their commenderaJ\.. were ordered to ignore the~'l\in 

the case at 

~~)/-~~;, 

'the British merchantmen!\. But there were bound to be mistakes and,..the 

~ 

. 

~fu~t*"1- ~---~~~ti.el~ ~~J~~, 

ships at neutrals were"' s1.mk,A ..-1t brought a wave of resentment against the German ; 

\"\~ .. ~~ ~!. ~ ~t' ~ Uwt... £,. 

CJovern.ment,"4t tthl':.Pe :1ft!S• acrimonious notesA to that government, especially .ff\om...illi!e .;: 

- O"'loU\... ,. , am. Government, '!'h~~ ihipf,_ were..'!.~~ and specious excuses were given tar ~ 

~~ .cb~ ~:~~Jif~~~ WM-~~~irw otc.w.~ ~yf~ 

•~h a inkings. ,.._.American antagonism. was heighte~' by ~~ ~i~c~er~ ~t p1~~s1 ~ ... ~: _ - l -~~., , \. L. •, t" I • l).t ! ,.,... 'f.i 

uabotage activities at German agents in America.. , ___ \. ·--·~ , ~--- ,.., __ ::-1 )~~~~) - 6-· 

The powerful German submarine of'tenaive in 1916)~oon becan to take a dreadful. ! "f 

~ ~Co-.Q. T-1 

turn tor the British.~/\ the daily toll at ~- shi1:ping losses lfJl& ao heavy that I~ . ~~"--~4~ ~~ ~··- ~ . unl.e•s sane new tide set in -- or unl.esa t..'tri!e--Un:!:tec!l·<>&bates -.Qf...Ame:Piea -could be - \J:l 

k •'l- - - - - - ~~/ f ~ 

drawn into ttAO var on the Allied side -- there coul.d be only one end to ::-1 and J" 

tbat end would come soon. l ... 

~~ -f~ r - ,FobJ.tr.n then was tvo-:roJ.41 "1.Y To labor prodigiously to gain """tery C1V'11" --![ 

the German submarines.,; but this, it was recognized, vou1d be a. slow, a very aiow, ~· 

:Procesat ~try not to irritate ar &ntagonize tile Un1ted states)and c.,,.tainly ~ . \,\)V\JL._ • .. W'0..-1, v"' ~"" > 

not to exasperate Amer1c8\ M ~be Germa.na~~,J\,au 1'he hope ~hat' the 3\;ter would 

,/ ~Ji.NA .),; ... .Jl 

-4-

~~_,_---- ., -
7 

1

'Were serious doubts being cast in .America on the genuineness of 

the instructions to the German Minister in Mexico the authorities here might 

reconsider their position, but as Zimmermann has admitted their genuineness 

in the Reichstag this can hardly be the case. 11 

That is what Hall greatly feared would happen--but his fears turned out 

to be groundless • 
REF ID:A63374 

•ooner ~ later 1 the sooner the better / goad bllie ~ieamJ 1nto joining the var 

.... \ f.'/'~ I ... ~ . ; ... ' .~ - """ ~ .""\ .. •'"""" w .... /l.:&- • 

-aai'llS't ~.AY· The :British vere tartunate in both reepects. It turned ou.t that 

·--.. ... -~~- - ~°'-' .-.r._ 

thanks to the tremendous exertions ot !riUH. abipbuildere1 scientist~ and sailor!' 

~~err-.t. . 

mastery over the su'bnarines was attaine~'but "- until early 1n 1918. With this 

phase ~ tbe British pl'oblem as I've just stated it, we sball not concern ourselves 

today. It is vith the other phase at it that m::t talk will deal. 

'\a,.MJ-A ~ Let•s see hov the GerlDlll'le behaved so as to outrage~fa4U¥ all Americans 

L •• ,,~ ~~AJ!... L 9L 

' 1) {V .. ~ o."4- • - President Wileon~aek Congress to declare war on *illlar. ,, I\. I\ 

k,~~ .. ~-~)· 

A..if!uring the f'1ratZ°'Year5of' submarine var:t'are the German Government respected 

~ .\)~ 1~ .~tj "1 ~~ Wn..~. the rights ot neutral nations"'l,Ut vben tac~ with the prospect or losing the Wal." 

~ ~~4~~~ ~ .. .1" unless all imparts to the British Isles were cut ott 1 .iii(~ a fateful decision. 

~ ~o..v./· ,£_ - ,.,.,. J. February 1917, ~ 'lllROUAdecl- 1'_. aszet- 1m~b da~-,lez '7'..aubla.arines would . • 

e>~!~~ 

•ink at aie;ht. MJ. ships met 

~ 

an the h:tsb •easj~ ...,...,~Q' ~~r~ ~-;,. ~J-~~.J What did President Wilson do an receipt or the Qerma.!). proclama.tionT WhJ', ) ~. 1u>o ~~ ().J-12.,.f) 

1' on 3 :re'brUB.l"l'j he intarmed Ger!IBD. Ambassador von :Bel'}t8tcxrf'f' that ·••aer-ia-u'f;ke 

'W0-4 c.uiti . U.a!i:cd-=liMiates was 1l1r the United States ~1\89~ diplomatic relatione 

~ ...... ~u~,~~~J~ 

vith GerillB.DY· Von Ber~ .. tarf'f'~vasn't given much ti~ to :pa.ck his belong1Dgs and 

..J~c~,~ r. " ;~~M ~ 1 ~,M. ,._.~i.f-a~ a;o haae.A.,tJ. ,4 ,.,b-o_,¥.i ,μJ..-o.t 'J~l-J/~ A.t.IOOA !~ · J j"-A,.~~\.. •'A~ L' ArO~~/'MAO-~-O.~ .~~ ... °Jt ~~r -- ~'""'e-1--- ... 5. 

~ ~GCdA.Q. 
P L E A S E N 0 T E ! ! ! 

Advance Registrations ~ ~ RECEIVED !! SECRETARY'S OFFICE l!!!.Q! 

!2, SEPTEMBER ;!QI!!.. THEREAFTE:ti THEY WILL BE RECEIVED BY 

RICHARD D. HIGGINS 

Archivist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

Chairman Local Arrangements Committee, SAA 

State House, Boston 33, Massachusetts 
:• •1 IJ I" 

,, . : 1 j.'· 

, ... :.- '·'· .. ;;.:!.ic= 'I ,)"'1• 

I~. J ~ • '· , . 

: , . ~ . ( 
~ W'o.4 ~ ~~ ~ ~ .. t-a.-J-o~-~ w-«. ~~ _· :--~J ~ 1ew~.f:ta.1&-,llailf.cpMt ibab ftle ~-·•ta:• volll:-d now Jo1nA. the war _ 

»,~~ ~-I: ·_y~Ao-rt·~~IJ.JJ.. ~ .. lo ~'1>lA4/ ~ <-- ~ ap.inst ~A l'Jll Amrican position was quite humiliating because it was cl.ear ~ 

W't ~~..Ma.~ a-~t<;j ; 

that Ila "oqp•lf Doli·give ruir/ own Merchantmen any protection vhateV:r, that i~'t}•~~ ~ 

~ ~ dwo.o ~'\,, ... vi ~tio"'i&AAA~""M~ . couldn't/\vithout goiJ:lg to war) and~eaident W11son had p:omisedt_to keep ~.co... ., 4--'- ~t°()"'tl.ti~ t.t-9'~~~0~ ~·~ ~~~ei "''I(,. ¥~d4~1" ~ out o£ the war." Hence, a:tter the German declaration o~ unrestricted. submarine • 

~~~OWl.~--~J..o~~ 1 

warfare"• ••Alla· ~ips/Mptt ~ithin American barbars;~" the7 were afraid to t ~~~~~ J leaveA ..a becane helpless victliis of submarine tarpedoes--w1th large losses in l\ 

"-:d~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~ W) c;! 

life to be expected. I\ 4 I •ve aa.id1 President Wilson vas determined to kee~ A111er1-ea. -.ff 

~ ~ ou.t at waii-Juat ~ the Scandinavian and certain other countries in Europe were ~ 

... _:-piilg out at 1~~ ~1Ud.,~ytd~~ onei hi• own ambaaaadar - -,, 

;;:i. in Landen wrote 1n his diaryl .. )' 

~ l "I pt'edict tbat the President cannot be :made to 1if't a finger 1t>1 \ ,-, tar war-until the Germans should act~ bOI!lberd one or our ports. It's 

~-- ".__~~C_!_.~-~:: tbat ~·-him_~ ~1 time~" _, 

On the whole, ~ sympathies were with the Allies but the feelings at 

" 

a large German-American population had to be taken into account, especially when 

British high-banded a.ct1on1 every once in a while,, aevereq prejudiced their case. 

So s~, the ~ u .. s . '°~~~ ....arr1c1ai ..-ttitu4e ~!'.P041t1on ·"' waa, aa 

--- -t•ve :tmlicated1 vvy-ditf':t~ 

----------·--

~ writer, cammenti.ng on Preaident·w11son1 a conduct, said that he "was hesitating 

on the brink ot var, reluctant to p1unge into it, clinging pain:t'ully to the idea 

-6-

-- ------- REF ID:A63374 

\ 

ot strict neutJ:"a.litywbieb seemed to be almost a. ;p!Lt"t at his religion.• 

:But ~"be a 'bit ~ .:po11t1ce got mixed up vitb the rellgi.on because, as 

eam at you may remember, the Democratic slogan 'far President Wilson's campaign 

tar a second term va.s: "be kept us out of var". And let's not f'arget the other 

tamous explanation he gave tor keeping out at warJ-his statement that 11there is 

ouch a thi.ag as bei.ag too proud to i':lght 1 • ,:;i ~ *'c-!,. ~ ~. 

There was another factor we must keep in J!lind. Far a large part of the 

United States, especially the Middle &Z1d. rar West, the war in Europe was 3,sss 

miles acroee the Atlantict.Jt might aa well. have been on another planet so far as 

Nov, historians may disagree as to ?& the United States bece.me a belligerent 

~ ~ 

in World War I; tCl/le at them w,t'n believe 1'lllR we vent in on the wrong aide. But I 

. ~ 

think that most histcrians woul.d now agree that it we.a ~on of the Zimmermann l ~ ~ \t Telegram a.Dd the brilliant ~ in which the British used it) that brought "iiw Va .... 

~ """ ~ZUiB into the var ~· wllaa e!le ... :It.....;..!._ 

lGI& br0111 

1 

:t 

+:-..., 

in, and 

~ br~~tbe ... """ ~ ~-side ot the Allies .. ;~ 

,){.G...._U,._ ~Ar(. ""-D ~T w-e.._~_.. M f'Oi£z._~"{;t~ tl)'o.r. 

-7-

REF ID:A63374 
----

REF ID:A63374 

REF ID:A63374 
the Zimmern:wmn Telegram of 16 January l9J.7 was the subject of a radio broadcast 

~ ·-' 

by the :British '.Broadcasting Corporation dkllAk as recently as 26 Ma.y 1958• I'm 

're-" " ., 

tr)"ing to get a transcript of that broadcast. I mention this to show you that 

~ ~ ~ W"' Y~t:M4 the~-~ isAquite a_ live l!l~ee• today--fO'years laterJ 

~- Now 1et 'e have 'Wal.ter Cronkhite 'a J... ;t..,o;t: 'tl:Ml--Munex·maau 

.. 

' 

-8-
-1 1 1 a 1 • • ~'•" • 1" ~ I 11 , 

ca.re:L'ul study -by 

Cl"<-'-1. 

Jiild.,~ ~ ea well as ~ 1J!L',,Wle~. It is a story replete with ~ .. ~ l.o\i":",W ~ lessons on tbe disastrous coo.sequences of weakness in •c .. pawer", art 11l=liA 

}la· r n on the opportunities attenda.nt lo upon ~ strength in "C-power". ~ 

:i&::l.Mm' 1: ; ,_! m; i!iid'd: tmt ;u• ,. ,. ' &ii ,~- • •, a 1111•1 '-: ~las iJ s rv ; 'ZR a tlWv'id 

"i)OpnJer accounta c4 ttGf"'Z°:tiiiiM!r~ '?e'J::egcw ~e ·G;Ji;:t'-etf't'1:aJia 'Iii 

.. a el 1ildd.Fam -~1*-; . . ~ 

I think it carrect to sa.y that history attributes Y.S~~_J o:. 6 April 121.7-._ w"'t~ wjt,A !' (f into 'WW!" as a belligerent on the side of' the Allied PO'tlel"s. to. the disclasure of 

the contentG ct the Zimller.me.Im Telegram.. Note that this sta.te:llent is ~iec\ I 
REF ID:A63374 

- j. 

, 

• - ......... .. ~-- ..1!. ·.· 

~- -.... "· 

I 

( 

I 

\ 

--~ _ __J____L.\..,l~~~~L ~~~~4 
REF ID:A63374 

', ... - - :..__ - '!I .. '· 

by a date, viz, 6 April 19l.7. Perhaps that would have come about without the 

~\.. ~~i-~ Zimera1J1a Telegram..,, sooner ar later" "tar one rearso!l ar anothe~W. most 

6-c.e..~ 

proba.bly"'M a 1ed~.,J of' German ruthlessness in the conduct of submarine warfare. 

But "later" might have been too late, because a.f'ter l! Pawwsr7 -i.g.l.~ 15lm:t 

unrestricted submt•ine warfare started there was'lt·t; much time l.eft to help 

And if' ~too 

~ bad waited lllltil England had been starved into 1b&1'Vab1:orr au6t 

capitulation,, it o{c.,....- isl\possible that ftnie11:t@~d ~~ z'l.ever have entered ~ iia'4! ~· ...... 

It \»e_~~ o-~ ~ ...... L ~ ~ ..e..o.J.. 

Ur!', if :!& .aa fi.~arced to German arrogance, ~might have lMlea left- to 

~a pawerful. and Jubilallt Gcrmauy all al.one. Who kn'"'81 ! ~ _. u.J'"-"·-~ 11n.J·Li\:<j ~F'W~~J The fact is, however, that the Zimmermann ~elegram. was~published on 

-r ,..j J...- 1.-::.,'9,Pti!.r.ih-._ ,,a;. I • t - t ;. • r--------- -~ -- ;tt;:a.=- :. ... - ~ 

March ls~and vithi~ a little aver OJ.le monthA on April 6th,'~ declared war on 

Ac:c.o~~ ~ r"<-\-~ o.9.t ~6 r\o-·.~ we_ 

Germa!'ly. Jrhere seems to be 11ttle doubt_.41RUl!twe1 that hssJ(lca e.atered the 

A ~Q.~~~~~~- WB.l" whe!1 Ul'llJld because of the Zimm:!rme.nn Telegram, or.::.+ &ball we eay; rather,-

~ ~~~..t£:0 )6.;j--~~ ~~~ ~~~~t~~ as a consequence, on the one hand, ot Germa.11 obtuseness in affairs diplom.tic 

" ~w-t. ~v.LJ_~~~~~·i and naivete in af'fairs cr;r.ptolog1e; and, on 'the other hand, • tee ,b.ui~ 

~~~ ,~,~OJ·44."'b~ l\»ritieb astuteness in atfaira diploma.tic)a.Dd/\.brilliance in a:f.'f'airs cryptologic.()Jt..~ 

~~~~AA..~~~onl.M, ~~ct" 

k~~, -ft)-· 
,.-- - -

~ 

- - . . : .. - ·- ·- . • . I 0.. I -

• autbent1c1t;y, Of'!t41tif!_ z1mWMmnn i;e..ie.a.. The newspapers were :full of .-.•. --~ --~· ,..__· -

·1. - • - ~1 p I 

denunciations and discuseion~ ,or what~ _ropl~j~aar~~~a complete hoax, cL ~ 

'°''1.->~ ~~ A·~s~• ... ~t t ,.,.,~ ~ ·~f< ,.._,~ .J 

#fraud. . IQ. the C~e~eio~ Record· the debate on March lst,.:akes up 22 vhole 

' • ~ . c .. ' . ; ' b • I ... .. • • :\ i ... . of I .-. ~-:- ir;.- ~ .. ·,. .. • • - t t,, ' r 4 I - • '1 • 

\ : .; ~.,,,..,..:.._ ~- I J4-_ I . ' ... I ' 

:paaee--all devoted t~the que~t1on ar tb~;a'"~therlticfty'ot the Zimmer~ Teleit"ani~ 

z-' ·- ~ 

REF ID:A63374 

~ ' !" .. --

REF ID:A63374 

--- - -- --- ------· ---------------------.- ---- - --

----- --------------- ----

--- ------- --- --- ---- ------------- --~~-------____..,.__ 
We sball not concern ourselves"vith the steps taken by President Wilson 

~~l~J. ~~ 

and Secr~'!'ary Lansing, culminating in the publication by the A-:f; or the text 

A, • 

at the Zimmermann Telegram. Our attention vill be concentrate~ the minute 

details at tbe ma.nner in which the message was intercepted and solved. ,:,,.~ 

. ~-:'.\ 1\94:- (~~ p,~'fufo""rU:f"~-ic~. __....~ ~J6.1nuc :cead ill&- from Hendrick; ~ -24 .!!manner --.!:rrwhtch"- ~ -:- • lttc to 1 :J 

·~·' .. - ~ Hthe most fateful mesaage sent to America. during the war." U6""1JU-vith fo.llovintt ..... 

,.. ~· w:iMl, -lat col. ··~ "'v.• 11In the British Admiralty this Nauen-Sayville 

th<lroughf'are was known as 'the main line•1 it was the most direct. and consequently 

,) 

the one most used tor sending German dispatches to the United States. 

Re.odrick 

. 

cites no authority tar the stateccnt that the Zimmermann 

~ 

was 

" 

transmitted by radio :trom Nauen to Sa;yvill.e. There is very good reason to doubt 

A tev hour& arter outbreak at var the British, who've a1ways recogllized 

the im;portance of control ot communication channels as veil as sea lanes took 

immediate steps to isolate Germany trom the rest at the World that lay beyond the 

~ 

l+-
~~~~--------------------------~ REF ID:A63374 ·j 

I 'f 

oceans, b;y cutting and diverting to her own service the tvo Ceman cables across 

the Atlantic, leaving only indirect channels at coimnuniee.tion vith her a.mbaeead~ 

1 

. at Waabington. These were f'om• 1n IIWflbe:r:. ~ 

~.... 1~ ,~--,, to ~~'~j ) .J"" ,.Y.!:l' ~\.ob kM!\Q [~ (}-} JI. Ke.dio -r., Nauen7'3ayv1lle, Ld,. and Tuckerton, '.leYJ;r 'Both(.upervised 

by the uu51'-~d~uperv1sed.lrt> ~~ fTUA ~~. ..... 

• llt.k ...:.-:- ! .. ,_ . ' ~ . • .i.-~. .•••.• . I ·--~ . . ........ .....-. ... ·- - I ...;"! ... -. - ! • • .. -

{?.) f'able from Germa..11y via :.Berl1n~Stoc_iho1Dl-:Buenos Aires, Wasbington-

.6.. k"). ~Ii-.~) ~ .,. .... - \°'':a ..\.._ 

but thia route was secret :rrom.i.,.U.s~·aithough there is postive evidence tba.t it vaa Du. ~~~) ~-knOW"n to tho British tram. the f'irat days or its use._. the cable from Stockholm. 

~, '° J>J'" ..... ~, .... ~ ~. D.4 "~ S~R.rw--~4"-~·,. ·----- - to Buenos Aires :pl.86Cd tbrough Eagle.ad;~~ ~ ~ ocrc.~~ c.aJRJ.. ~ R~40"). 

(3) ~~~ ~ Berl.iu~openhage1l 40-~ashi.:lgton~ ~ '11s cable a1so touched 

EngJ.ish eoil.. This was a very unusual channel tor the Germana because it could ~ 

\.J. ~~~· J,~ .. be used ~ with the knowledge and cooperation of the u"t5~;\~ ~ tC...VA 0.:1'4v' 

· n.t.~ I ~,.-n'. \4) ~volved inaert~~lllf ~ec~et text in ard1nar7 news disps.tche~ 

. ~ 9..-~ ~ J~~~·~ ~ "'1w.A ~ ~ ...... ] c~ ~ {INA.Q~ ,(~ and was diael.<>aed ..... after the var 'by ~tortt himselt~ \ 

Y\,,,,4' "' ~ -n~ )b s~ ""'~b..:1~·.·~ ~ . .., 

."'8 to the first method., -the use at the radio cbo.nnel was prohibited exeGpt ~ , ~ 

~ ~ ,,;..... i.J.. ... ~ ~ :i~the supervision ~ "1~. under America,n aupervision/excerised by American authorities vas very detailed~ 

Bendri~k is absolutely' wrong when he aa;ys (p. 25, lat column) " ... bow little this 

\ 

\ 

I 
REF ID:A63374 . .. 

prohibition i.nterrered vith the Germans is •hown by the use they me.de or 

the Loas Island station for this, the moat fateful. meaaage sent to America 

Govermoont etc. • bottom P· a ~ _brochureb.a...t.1) a..;... ,a. ~ft>·? 

~ 

-- Jl-

····------.;·~;;~:-~-"'::-::.:~..:...._-_-~-~... "''I"~~ - -- - ------·-·•:!.·.-- - --- -.... ... 
could be Wlravelled and read b;y any'bodJ' not possessing e. copy at the code-

~ ~...A. 'fe..tsl- ~ 'te.. u- ~ ~ . book-c.:erta1D.l.y not ""stupid Eng11shmen. Av~~, ~ c ::8'" 'Q4' f'~-vu ~~°"'""" ~~ ~ fi,.. 'I~ ,~ t>\) \9 'S: 

The Hendrik account w~d make 1 t appear as if' t the Zimmerma.ntTelegram 

~ received/\ ~ special. ~~a.~\\~ 

,-TlQ~ to insure its ~~ -~l1ft but it is clear trom 

the German recO't"ds alone that the transmission ot important messages by 
- ------ -r ' !. ~~--------------------~ 

~J'~-k. ~ 

_ ;q&•;;r:., !=$'" -~·. =- ]"""U·-w ,-W-e. 1 ".A~1«.<u.b,l ? '1.J Beod ti""" p !16 at--.irik,-~--.;i.'.11'Ben4r1k'• statement "In -

~ capitals German messages were frequently put in SvediBh ciphar ~ ~ ;h, ,/ 1f'.l ~~a_ f'.\~_,_,, - i, ~V implies that the »ritiah read Svedish codes, too. ~ow:r-Wtt~~~'\-o~ 

. ~ i: J . " L~__:.._r· ·~ ~i ""'f£d-.ii: ;.(V(A.; ~ h> fik~1J~t·.':' IW~A11;. . ~ ~ l :a.M- ~Olll-"'P'..-··18-1'!"' b.coc~.--.-~-.. iit:vould:"b& euy~~---~ ;..~ 

~ ~\' I ' m.~~~~~ ·---; "q~ ~ ~,:s -~ .... r :f,,,~~ ~"""-....., . -~ -~~i .... l,.,.J ~ ~lit:-1.1..~~-kf tN ~~~~ 11-...::a::°).~. 

~ ~ H~ ~~}}We come uo:or to the third and most ~ntcrcating ~t the ZimmerDa.un r 

-. o - . '/ . ~b)r~ Vi.o-.. ~ ,()~ ~ ~o !Ac.~~o~ ~- ~ '1 j .'~ \ elesram rout:t.nas.-tbc one/\ W?ed .vith cooperation ot the State- Depa.rtment . .9-~-

I j .. -~ l~.J9...~r..; ·~-~ J.{ rlfl μ~- - • 1' ~ "Ota. \.-~ 6:~/l. \ I ; .\,)10 r:J,..,..v..A t '.f.M.. °P"-..,..jJJ ,\.u ~I,:. ._J,,._ J 

"f (. ~ ' - c:'J -~ .u.. l'l. ~ I).. d.. -~, l. .;s_ - ,._. t.-J..lJ.le.-,- ~'COi.WIJ.U)' '"l''ir 2.6-Bend.ll!i • ·~ ...... x;.,>e,~ • 11.J.~ r~,~-"1-\-/..;)':"" . - . ' .,-L.. .... ' ( o-J' 0 ~._,.. l • +~ j .' I ~~ t,N. JJ.'l-4•(1 "1-b~ 

../.' ....,__ I 1r"" 

j_ ~ -l-t . rf:tagilit1e&-'WU .a.. ~&:tl1er. a1mpJ.e -&Moter-r:=.--.. "ii,- 12 :bJ:oc.hux:e-al.l-t;tre-·.,_.. to·· 

'i1 ,., ••• ~· ~ • A : State Depu-tme.o.t was indeed careful placing its communication 

'---~ ··~ :r:C~11\1ea at the dis~al of the Germana. n."1.. ~,,,_~a ,..,;- a..JJ... ~ 9J.. ~.-::. ------:--__,.., I r:i - ' . . I: ~ ~ -=~----~---~-~{fl)·~ ~e. ... ~ 

~fxom p.--:l.4··brochure - one para, onJ.y,7 2'- v~"'- n.... P· IL/ 

\ 

- \'if"- • ,, I 

' ' 

--.... ...... ______________ ~ 
REF ID: A63-3-1-4--~-- - -- ---- -------- ----

(£.~ (3"1.,.~ 

We come nCN' to a study or the cocle~e4 tor the Zinmermann Telesram. 

~~ ~..Q...-u~'f-~ ~ ~ ~~ t.~,~··~:<~ ~ first,~.! its passage f'rom Berlin to Washington': ~re can be no 

14 

• 

~~~~ • ~~-~-IA.I . ~.,.. ~~ !l.O--

questiO!l that the message" 1t bare the No. 158) was the one which 

1\1\1\Q~f 6A'L W"'o.O 

been appended to '.Berlin-Wo.sh1ngtOJ.1~C:. 15~ and which ~ :!aaen sent via 

State Department eha.nnela. AIJ I 1ve already said, tbe Britiah Goveramnt 

baa atf'1ciall;r never published any account or the interception and solution 

I '. · -~;..'to.~ ~ R.o°""" 40,/' . 

ot the Zi111Dermann Tel.egram by its ~l19•e,~nc,.-Q.OBDOOly ~eterred -to-as ___ ....,_,. -------·~ - ---- ... ,_.. 'tL.. ---_....,.._...,-=~ ... - .... _ -~ 

,..aeca:JFt.mm..~he~-we stud7 very intentl.yl\telegrams that passed between 

the British and American Gavernmente dealing vith the ZimmerJIBnn Telegram 

a.a ?'elated in the Hendrik account-and mare es;eec1e.i;r. now 1 the account 

~Av.-~a""© ~ro~L.W._.i~ ~'- ' . ··--.~ .... _ 'f\ . . - -.> ... con'ta.1'led in'J{.. ~ il&ee ,emo&-ago _.a close 

·- - W(. CCt.4.A.. μJl... ~~".a 

a&1MM1!.3.a:+:ta....a11~M?"'Ulr'l:'1'!11e· .. -aolleegt'tt!t""ttt ·*bafl'Mt~~· -is- -"the-< book,_ ·!I!!: 

~~~~~~r-~~~-~- e· ~· 

~- .. • 

»ut .Admiral James was careful. Even though, aa he says, he had no 

ft ore acc~ss to unreleased af':r1c1al. papers and theref ae-.dle...~ 1 it vasn•t 

:/ 
REF ID:A63374 

- -----. 
F ID:A63374 
------·--- REF ID:A63374 

neeeHary tor him to obtain official awoval ror publishing hie book, be 

~ ~ '1.a.o.twd ~ a:.. 

did submit it for some sort of blessing, if not approval, ~hf:• mrio-..0 

.. ~ \· ... r- let~!"·~·, .. ~ ;_ h~~ .. ~dated 1~ DecemberA :f'rom our tmf" !bpq-Sen:Nz Liaison Of':f'icer ~HQ ~ .. wRo sc...A... ', •. 

«:Jeqpq at'helfe. 

lmw the de1icate and interesting tccbuical. points about the Zimmermann 1 -:,..~- ~~~~~~,.,,.;-;~~ Telegramvhich/rema.ined. obscure or 1n dou~until he published his book. 

11. ... '_j &R.L I 

~~~ ~-\)·: - And ~a.. can "be ~t. his cl..B2"1t1cat1on, ... unintentional., I'm sure/\ of 

other du'biou.1 points about the history and operation.Sat' Room 4ri;~ '0-......t ~ 

~ii ~ ~~AA~ .,l.~-~-Ufr'" ~ wt-~ ]! w@ &hall llaA to coafJP.e .QUJ:.&el.vaa to tbe~.u14iab'le tacts ·about , 1 ~·"4N 

the, cry:ptolos;y ~ the Zimmermann Telegram. 

Let's 'begin by quoting from .Adm1raJ. James' account. (James, p. 136 --

.- ;~ L-~~~- : 1 _ ____.,,,.. v.f''~n earl,':f in the Nev Year (read p. 136 and 137 to point indicated a.00 camnent 

\ ./ - . . . _; 

'- - .1'.~~IZ..-

dssn.ge. (le;c1de~t~--4eacnbe-neproyj :--- --

~N'r-~ Ofo'\L z .. : ... ~--..... \~ d-~ V.,, ~-tt>-;.x:>c'-- ThCre are reo.3ons to bel.ieve that the v-ersion/\1Jhst •e -htne Just seen 

A 

c~ tram the J:ld-M•h ... op7 et "the State Depa.rtmeL1t iriesaage containing Berlin•s 

............... _______________ ---~- - __:__~_ 
REF ID:A63314 

& llos. 157 and l.58 to Wash:togton...-but I don.ft think it would ~ bean polite 

•t lolJc;:t'l:a:e::'C!ll' even now to ;115•-'t!I! 1.utimate ....- that the :British were also 

bee.1 made that by February 19 Ball had in his bandG an DJ.most _per:f'ect trans-

~ ~~~ . cript;•and James then gives the text ot the Z:hmnermann Telegram as published"'""' it.t,. 

--~~ \ " ~-~e.c- " ~ 

-~, -
REF ID:A63374 

_.. . _.., 

.- ' . 

... : I 

... 

r .I"._ 

' - .. - • - - , • • .r.~-

• If#!• I I~ .,. ,. i 
REF 

But James ia throwing a little dust in our eyes. The version of the 

Zimmermann Telegram that vaa fin&l.Jy published WJJ not tile version that . f 

"'/\, ~ Q,~ W'rM7 ~ Q,, Cflw,.t~ was in the telegl"am tram Zimnm"mann to :aer}iStar:f'f'• ~*!!;-:In oQde .. -r;••f" 

~ - " 

wt 1;.ba ~YaleD1i-..Y&r8 i'011 ·-'bhat -'¥&& . .&a the telegroam from :ee¢storf'f' to 

,~.,. a.~~~ tew1h'lj °"~ ~-r,..,,t C.&k ~ &() &.J.e.."u! Eckhardt~ was in~ older.~ ~h simpler"'.Jd.1119 e~ £_ 

-~~~~~·· .~ r6~ A-,). f;v. ~..!Jct-\ If "-1~ ~-~ - \iY ~tinue- with -p:· "'14'2 dOV-il. to- -at0»,-:---an.1t next psrqra:ph· mia-cont:tniR! 

But by this time Ball bad inf'ormation that the Germa.n-Americane in 

.~) . 

tbe U~~e extreme1y active in their endeavors to stay the President's 

hand. Re :telt that the ti.me had come f'ar ilmnediate action and f'ormaJ.J.y . J ·~ ~ ~~ ~ z~ .. -~Na.- "° ~ ~ 11J.. ~k~ pt"eaa~ tar a d~c1ao~ On 211 February be received Balf'our•a autbmi~!!z 

~~~~- ~...., /1 

We•ve already lleardAthe contents or the_ mbss-e from Page, tlie 

/ / . 

~ / . . 

..... ,, _,~ I . . 

,. 

t.u.. W°"f' '·· ~ '.) 

American Lbassador> in LQlldon) to t~. ~eaiden.t,.tind Secret~;y- ~ S at~eo 

' / i / \ 

n •t repeat it ""( :'."' _:,u" '""."all tbat ~"iE!i:,gram Page ·~ ~ 

ft:: p.1'f-f ~ .. -- - /:' . __,_,_ - --------- -----------
--~--..... ..-------------~----=-=-~~~~---~ 

REF ID:A63374 

We saidJ 
REF ID:A63374 

A~ iao) 

Oa t:be 4tQei.1aa4., Jame~ aives us mu.ch Jlllat'e apeci:fic and val.ue.ble \ ,.... 

ini"armation on this :point;,dJ:l'l_j;h~-~· (Jo.-8(),rr· tl\-~ ) Ii :J....--. f:t>:J'-<t·?o '):... ~ .Pr.:. 

Rid OWD-ll·--; 'to 'liop p. 7f. -!JJ} '.lprll (1915) some'1m1Dg-...-"'¥"'-. 

w.M.. ~ ~ ~ °"" c.M. ~~ "--- ~-i... ~ ~~ ~~ ~-1M&E to pt"&pu'& tar~ i;td.k/ lR:::fluf e ee>!l'd::ftg 01!\ t;: j !JJ.,..q WaO\'.; . ~- a-.'.4 , 

wotd:lt -tave-~ ~rma.n Code 13114~~~ fll:I s!:::tdes, etc. It •s 

an interesting document .. ~--~~ cb~e ~~...an~~J .... 

:But to get bo.ck to the Zimmermann Telegram 1tsel1" again, you will recall. 

that I said it was publiehe4 1n all the important newspapers ot the world 

~ ~-~o- ~ ~ l~i:r.-. ~ :.-....~~) A-~J..'1-() Ai~ : 

on March lat, 1917. A A:f'ter acrimonious debate a resolution was pt.seed by ~.;; 

the Congress tbat the President be asked to atate the source at the inform.a.-

"Ii 

tion. He replied the same evening through his sec'retary of State as f'ollOW'a 1 ! 

~:f.~~:::~~~-~11# .. ph' ~~~-~ ~~~; ~__.._. •- ~- ··~ ~ I, ~--_I\• t•-.. '\.~ ;~.: ~--- l. o (Jv. ,11...l•S-+o''~I: ~ \ " i- - ~ 

'i=t rmmm··in a atatement 'betora the- Reichat~ ·a--1<mr,' invO!ved 

~~~I~~ ,.e...._..~~,.._.ti-lo.o-1.~;';' ~~sh. &Jl'Gloa f:or-his:""1~ -e-omuc;, '"° ~~'}~ -i ~~ 6 "~ .. )2.)t,~~q_. i-~ r~ .. ~.v '"~ ~?~ l ---~ J,t"e.t cTawetrl"-14fl,.-arked·1,1!1.1."agraph-. . 

• 

~ 

6-1:, ~ 1 ... ~~~ ... -~ W'a4,.I 

Hov could suoh a naive manf\.r1se to be head of the Foreign 

_ _. ...... _ --- ---=~--~ 
REF ID:A63374 

IH l!! mWlt -. been reaJ.17 slBl:'t be voul.d ha"" 4eaounced the 

~~ tel.egram"" .. raraer;r~t.raud, ~ pL'cduct ot llriti•h duplioit;r - ohicaDer;r--

~~ even 1t ~to smoke the Bt-itish out and mke them ;e:ove the authenticity ot 

the telegram by disclosing exactly how the message and the information contained 

~ ~""' - in it .... obtained. ~ _ ·-h ,

1 · . •· J., 

------ __ ,-- cr;:~e.~~?J..'J#. \-.)'i( J~~a-p~.c.!i~i·r~•t ~.· 

'rhat is vbat Ball greatly teared voul.d happen--but his f'ears turned out 1'1-

"'~ 4 • W)('J .l ... .. -. - J;)_. ~ ~ • .·~·- - & "i .... \ !I r J.V... . . '' ""'-" \ 

.,.. ' ,,...._."~ ,\ . to be groundless. ~·waa. ~dumb, ·too "1!1lDl"j-~Ot> inepi;,..;.a-.mr-eoon .. .,,. ., I\ 

Nov go back to F-M brochure, p. 17 to end at 2d para.