HC Deb 20 March 1940 vol 358 cc2023-4W
Sir M. Sueter

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is satisfied that proper steps have been taken by his Department to prevent the leakage of military information to enemy countries by way of neutral countries through the agency of foreign telegrams;

(2) whether, in dealing with the possibility of leakage of information to the enemy on air strength and dispositions, he will take into consideration the possibility of such leakage by way of foreign telegrams which are uncensored and unrestricted except in respect of their ostensible meaning?

Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that foreign telegrams can be freely despatched without any check upon their authenticity and without any precautions against espionage other than a cursory censorship of their prima facie contents and meaning; that the contents of such telegrams can be promptly re-cabled from neutral to enemy countries; and whether he will take steps to remedy this, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction in service circles with the opportunities thus afforded to enemy agents?

Sir V. Warrender

It is not the case that foreign telegrams can be freely despatched without any check on their authenticity and with only a cursory censorship of their prima facie contents and meaning; and proper steps are taken to guard against leakage of information by this means. I am not aware of any widespread dissatisfaction in service circles in this matter, nor do I think that such dissatisfaction, if it existed, would be well founded.

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