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From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Circulating a Ministry of Supply letter regarding wartime security and verification of telephone communications.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 143\2\  scan0018
Date  16th July 1940
  
[Handwritten] F.H.H. K.R. F.T.H. CTS.{C. Trot Salt - Carburation} Please note Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 1204
[Stamped] SECRET
TO: Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
D2/DL16/7/40.

Will you kindly note copy of letter from the Ministry of Supply quoted below.

D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary}

MINISTRY OF SUPPLY,
The Adelphi,
London. 15th July 1940.

226/Tels/37 (S.S.I.A)

Sir,

Telephone Communications

1. I am directed by the Minister of Supply to remind controlled undertakings of the necessity for caution in regard to telephone communications.

2. Users of the telephone should remember at all times that telephone conversations are liable to be overheard, and should therefore avoid saying anything which, if overhead, might be of value to the enemy.

3. The use made by the enemy in the present war of false messages designed to induce action or inaction prejudicial to Allied interests makes it imperative that important instructions, e.g., relating to demolition or evacuation or the cancellation or diversion of orders for production, received over the telephone should not be acted on without verification.

4. The common methods by which verification may be effected are :-

(a) questioning the sender of the message with a view to ascertaining whether in fact he knows things which he would know if he were the person he represents himself to be; and

(b) communicating with the source of the message by a different channel. For instance, the sender of the message should be asked to say for what Government Department or association or firm he is speaking and that Department, organisation or firm should be communicated with separately.

5. The same precautions should be observed if you are rung up and asked for information which, if divulged, might be of value to the enemy.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

ARTHUR ROBINSON
Secretary of the Ministry of Supply.
  
  


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