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 / )