Re: SS Obergruppenfuhrer Zimmermann (NOT!)
At 04:21 PM 1/23/96 -0800, Simon Spero wrote:
On Tue, 23 Jan 1996, Perry E. Metzger wrote:
Alan Horowitz writes:
[...] Okay. I think I understand. You're a fruitcake. Easy enough.
The official pastry of the 1996 Cypherpunks.
One might note that Zimmerman isn't, er, a common name for yer typical Neo-Nazi... This sort of accusation is sufficient grounds for libel in the UK (such accusations have been found to be defamatory, and would almost certainly be settled within a few days.
Of course Phil (Hallam Baker) has more experience with this sort of thing... Simon
Maybe this is common knowledge, but the name "Zimmermann" and crypto had another relationship, in World War I. If anybody knows more about this incident than my vague recollection of the famous "Zimmermann cipher" would you care to tell the story?
Maybe this is common knowledge, but the name "Zimmermann" and crypto had another relationship, in World War I. If anybody knows more about this incident than my vague recollection of the famous "Zimmermann cipher" would you care to tell the story?
I think you mean Zimmerman Telegram. This was sent by the Germans to the Mexicans through the US Embassy in London and offered Mexico the retur of Texas in return for entering the war on the German side. The Brits were tapping the US cables as a matter of course and intercepted and decrypted the telegram. They could not show it to the US types saying it came from tapping their embassy so they broke into the German embassy in Mexico and pilfered another copy of the cipher in another code. When the Americans were shown how easy it was to decrypt the German telegram they said "gosh how clever these guys are - no wonder they have an empire". MI5 then managed to get their contact person at the British Embassy in Washington to effectively suplant the official British Ambassador, setting up a US Intelligence service for the Americans, in the process practically becomming a mamber of the US cabinet. [As a footnote Ian Flemming enjoied a similar position but with considerably less influence during WWII]. Now you see why uncle Sam is so nervous about Simon and Myself... There is a good book about all this "For the President's Eyes Only". Phill
jim bell writes:
Maybe this is common knowledge, but the name "Zimmermann" and crypto had another relationship, in World War I. If anybody knows more about this incident than my vague recollection of the famous "Zimmermann cipher" would you care to tell the story?
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. Perry
If I recall correctly, the Zimmermann Telegram did NOT bring the US into the war. It was however one of the many things that lead to a US decision to enter the war. In itself it did not cause the US entry. Just my $0.02 Tim Philp =================================== For PGP Public Key, Send E-mail to: pgp-public-keys@swissnet.ai.mit.edu In Subject line type: GET PHILP =================================== On Tue, 23 Jan 1996, Perry E. Metzger wrote:
jim bell writes:
Maybe this is common knowledge, but the name "Zimmermann" and crypto had another relationship, in World War I. If anybody knows more about this incident than my vague recollection of the famous "Zimmermann cipher" would you care to tell the story?
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.
Perry
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 / )
cjl writes:
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"
It wasn't. That was in response to the entire Yardley "Black Chamber" incident. .pm
participants (5)
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cjl -
hallam＠w3.org -
jim bell -
Perry E. Metzger -
Tim Philp