From: samlb@baynetworks.com (Sam Bassett (C))
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 10:56:07 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Born Classified
Message-ID: <199606121924.MAA07982@samsparc2.baynetworks.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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	According to "The Codebreakers" (if memory serves me), in about 1943
the U.S. and the U.K. negotiated a BRITUS treaty, the details of which were
very secret.  I think that this was the original agreement to share the
British Enigma cryptography results, and possibly the U.S. nuclear results.
	Further, I suspect that one of the provisions of the BRITUS treaty
was that all of the crypto stuff be treated as if British Law (i.e. the
Official Secrets Act) ruled -- everything was secret unless and until the Government said it wasn't any more.
	This was mildly unconstitutional at the time, but could be gotten past
the courts on the excuse that the Constitution defines treaties as "The Highest
Law of the Land".  It has certainly led to a lot of abuses since, but the
bureaucrats love it -- "born classified", indeed!

	Does anyone on the list have any info -- or references -- that would
serve to confirm or deny my guesses?

adTHANKSvance

samlb@baynetworks.com