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REF ID:A99685 

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ANr;1JAL. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CC:t/JtillIHCATIOKS RESEARCH 

l. A series of detailed technical reports was prepared, based upon observations made during a visit to England, in 

April - ~une, 1943, where the operations of GC & CS organizationf 

at Eletchley Park and Berkeley Street were studied. These 

reports have been useful to key SSA personnel in giving them an 

understanding and working knowledge of certain highly complicated cryptanalytic operations carried on by the British. 

2. Beginning in the latter part of January 1944 preparations 

were maae by the SSA to hold the Second Conference on Japanese Army Cominunications at Arlington Hall Station. The undersigned 

was selected as Chairman of the Conference, which opened on 

13 March 1944 and completed its ~ork on 24 March 1944. The agreemen~s reached by the Conference have ha.d and will continue 

to have an important influence upon successful work on Japanese 

t A1.,r:i.y CoI!lmunica tions. The final book of documents issued by the 

Conference embraced 52 numbered documents comprising approximately 

231 pages. ' 

3 .. Throughout the year the undersigned served as special adviser to the Commanding Officer of the Signal Security Agency in many '.important matters affecting its cryptographic and crypt-: analytic activities. Several staff studies were prepared for the 

Commanding Officer on important subjects requiring action by the 

War Department General Starr. Affir~~tive or satisfactory action 

resulted in practically all cases. 

4. Special cryptographic security studies undertaken by or ass~gned to the Signal Security Ageucy were technically directed. 

and coordinated. In particular, a resurvey of the cryptographic 

systems and related procedures employed by the Department of State 

was made at the request of the Secretary of Sta~e and appropriate 

recommendations submitted through War Department channels. In 

the lat.e spring, the undersigned was designated by the Joint 

Corernunications Board of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to be a member 

of a special cor.:m:.ittee of four to investigate the cryptographic security and related procedures employed by all non-military 

Departments and Agencies of the Government. These studies are 

still in progress. 

5. In con..~ection with the study of the cryptographic systems 

or the Department of State the undersigned drew up a plan for 

im"Drovement therein, involving, among other things, obtaining War 

DePa.rtment approval of w~king available to the Department.of State 

a new high-grade cryptographic machine. The new system will go into effect within a short time t:hroughout practically all the 

posts of the Department of State, at home and abroad. The pro- vision of these machines will greatly increase the security of 

the com..~u.nications of that Department. 

6. Throughout the year the undersigned served as staff 

coordinator ar.id supervisor of the a.cti vi t.:i.es of the ope1 .. a ting 

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Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 07-29-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 

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branches :in communications research and experimental work on 

cryptanalytic and cryp~ographic methods and apparatus. Special 

studies were coordinated and relations with F Branch have been 

particularly close in this field. 

7. A considerable amount of assistance ~as rendered to 

F and C ~ranches in connection with the development, production, 

and distribution of cryptographic items, including Converter 

M-325. Patent application papers were drawn up covering the 

latter device, invented by the undersigned. An automatic, highspeed model of the device, incorporated in a SIGABA chassis was 

also constructed by F Branch at his suggestion and has proved to 

be practicable.. Plans are nm.· under 1;ray for quantity production 

of this form of Converter M-325. 

8. I!l January 1944, Captain Hark Rhoads, U.S.A., Retired, 

joined the SSA i:i a civilian capacity as Cryptanalyst and was 

appointed Assistant Director of Co!!mlunications Research. 

9. O:i 11 I~rch 1944 the 1L.'1.dersigned was granted the War 

Departnent ~xceptional Civilian Service Awa.rd, being among the 

first pe~sons to be so ho~ored in the whole of the civilian service 

in t~e ~epart~ent. 

Director 

9.J~J.---· 'Williati 

of 

F. 

Co!:ll11unicatio~s 

?riedma , 

~ Research. 

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