TOP SECRET
Memorandum for Mr. Boardman
4) the resultant damage to U.S. efforts in this field if the Soviets learn of the degree of success in breaking their codes during the 1940's; 5) the political implications in this an election year; 6) the international repercussions and resultant Soviet propaganda when it is disclosed that the U.S. intercepted and worked on breaking Soviet coded messages when the countries were allied against the Axis; and 7) the effects on pending espionage cases which are based on information. These factors weigh heavily against using information for prosecution.
Based on information developed from traffic, there has been prosecution of Judith Coplon, Valentin Gubitchev, Emil Klaus Fuchs, Harry Gold, Alfred Dean Slack, Abraham Brothman, Miriam Moskowitz, David Greenglass, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Morton Sobell and William Perl. All of these cases were investigations instituted by us directly or indirectly from information. These prosecutions were instituted without using information in court.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is believed that we should continue this policy.
I agree.
L.
2/8
TOP SECRET
62
- 2 -
