740.0011 EW
1939/31965
The Presidents Secretary (Early) to the Secretaries of
State (Hull), War (Stimson), and the Navy (Knox), and to
the Chief, United States Secret Service (Wilson)
Washington, November 15, 1943.
Confidential memorandum for:
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of War
- The Secretary of the Navy
- Chief, United States Secret Service
The attached is strictly personal and confidential. It was received today
from Mr. Byron Price, Director,
Office of Censorship.
[Page 88]
The context, or at least that portion of the memorandum which refers to
the radiogram sent to the United Press, New York, from Cairo, via
London, undoubtedly is already known to you. However, I consider the
question of security to be of such vital importance that I take this
means immediately to call it to your attention.
I know of nothing more Mr. Price
can do. It does seem to me, however, that those who control the press
and radio outside of the United States should be reached by other
agencies and officials of this Government than the Office of Censorship.
Action by these additional Government authorities should be in strong
support of the position taken by Mr. Price.
Stephen
Early
Secretary to the
President
P. S. I especially invite your attention to the last paragraph in Mr.
Price’s memorandum.
[Enclosure]
The Director of the Office of Censorship
(Price) to the Presidents
Secretary (Early)
confidential
strictly personal
Washington, November 15, 1943.
Memorandum for: The Honorable
Stephen
Early.
On November 10 this office asked British Censorship, through their
representative at the British Embassy, to take particular pains to
suppress any disclosures which might indicate the imminent movement
of high officials of the United States Government. The British
replied that these steps would be taken at once.
At 6:43 P.M., EWT, on November 13,
the following message from the United Press in Cairo, via London, to
the United Press in New York was received in New York by commercial
cable:
“Possibly foreshadowing international developments Mena House
Hotel subshadow pyramids favorite exdiplomaticers ministers
will closed publicward soon profumigation quote in
anticipating visits conversations great portent to held
Cairo unquote”
This dispatch had come from Cairo to London by radio.
I protested immediately to British Censorship through the Embassy
here. After investigation, British Censorship replied that there was
no point of stopping the dispatch in London since security already
had been compromised. This is doubtless true not only because of the
radio transmission, but because the Cairo Censorship unquestionably
passed the same information (which indicates that a public statement
was issued) to other countries. I pointed out, however, that
[Page 89]
the British also controlled
the censorship in Cairo and asked again that the most vigorous steps
be taken at Cairo to prevent further disclosures.
I also telephoned the White House immediately after the above
dispatch was received in this country, and reported the
circumstances to Mr. Hassett.
I think there can be no question that this much is known in Berlin
and I respectfully suggest that steps be taken to amend in the
interest of security plans already made.
