From: cjl <cjl@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu>
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 00:27:16 +0800
To: Cypherpunks mailing list <cypherpunks@toad.com>
Subject: Zimmermann Telegram (crypto history)
In-Reply-To: <199601240336.WAA11471@jekyll.piermont.com>
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960124101611.13539A-100000@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


On Tue, 23 Jan 1996, Perry E. Metzger wrote:

> 
> It was the Zimmermann Telegram, actually, and it was a dispatch from
> the Germans to the Mexicans trying to promise them most of the
> southwest in exchange for being allies against the U.S. (which wasn't
> yet in the war). The Brits intercepted and decoded it and released it,
> which forced the U.S. into World War I.
> 

Why is it that I seem to recall that one of the responses by a govt. 
official to the intercept was the infamous diplomatic quote

"Gentlemen do not read other gentlemen's mail"

Ah, would that this sentiment were more common in government circles 
today (sigh) . . . . 


C. J. Leonard                     (    /      "DNA is groovy"
                                   \ /                - Watson & Crick
<cjl@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu>      / \     <--  major groove
                                  (    \
Finger for public key               \   )
Strong-arm for secret key             /    <--  minor groove
Thumb-screws for pass-phrase        /   )