(OT) : original typescript of the deciphered Zimmerman Telegram found

 
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
17/10/2005

Telegram that brought US into Great War is found
------------------------------------------------
By Ben Fenton

An original typescript of the deciphered Zimmerman Telegram, one of the 
greatest coups mounted by Britain's intelligence services, has been 
discovered.

The document is believed to be the actual telegram shown to the American 
ambassador in London in 1917 that proved Germany's hostility to the United 
States and guaranteed President Woodrow Wilson's entry into the First Word 
War.

Historians say no single piece of paper did more to guarantee victory in 
the Great War for Britain and her allies.

It was intercepted and deciphered by Room 40, a predecessor of GCHQ, the 
Government's top secret listening post, in January 1917.

So many documents surrounding the affair were destroyed on the orders of 
Adml Sir Reginald "Blinker" Hall, the director of naval intelligence, it 
was assumed the original typed "decrypt" was gone for ever. But the 
official historian of GCHQ found it while researching an "official", that 
is to say secret, history of the organisation.

"It is a chance survival," said the historian, who asked not to be named. 
"It is thrilling to have got it."

.../snip/...

The newly-discovered document says, in Hall's handwriting at the top: 
"This is the one handed to Dr Page and exposed by the President."

The GCHQ official historian said: "I believe that this is indeed the same 
document that Balfour handed to Page."

So valuable does GCHQ consider this primary document of perhaps their 
first great triumph, only a photocopy went to the National Archives.


see ( mind wrap ) :
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http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml
;jsessionid=CYOUOTQUKCVZPQFIQMFSNAGAVCBQ0JVC?xml=/news/2005/10/17/nzimm17.xml
&sSheet=/news/2005/10/17/ixnewstop.html

http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml
;jsessionid=CYOUOTQUKCVZPQFIQMFSNAGAVCBQ0JVC?xml=/news/2005/10/17/nzimm117.xml


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