HERBERT C. HOVENDEN 100 S. FAIRVIEW AVENUE March 25, 1978 PARK RIDGE ILLINOIS 60068 Re: October 6, 1918 message from (POZ) Nauen, Germany, received at Otter Cliffs Radio Station, Bar Harbor, Maine. 1. We have no copy of that message, as received at Otter Cliffs. Lieut. Fabbri's letter of 11/3/18, to Capt. Todd, mentions no dates in his letter of transmittal. Neither does Capt. Todd in his letter of receipt. only, that they were being framed. 2. That opinion by the Capt. R.H.White Group of June 27, 1968, clearly states that there was an October 6, 1918 Peace Over- ture sent by Germany--which was sent "with the hope of inter- cept." His Group said "...do not see how the message could be considered "classified": "You might call it an "Open Message". 3. No record of this message (as received by radio) at: A. Secretary of State (per Navy Archivist). B. Navy Operational Archives Branch. C. Curator Branch--Naval Historical Center. D. Library of Congress. E. Capt Toda (Son of Capt Todd-Director of Naval Communicatio F. Capt R.H. White-Can't remember what he saw--re the opinion. 4. only written record of receipt of that Oct.6, 1918 message from Germany, is my diary. 5. Only personal record is Raymond Cole and Herbert Hovenden. 6. No newspaper record of receipt of this message. I researched the microfilm records of the Chicago Tribune and New York Times, at the Chicago Public Library--starting with 10/5/18. The first newspaper reference to a. Peace Overture was in the Chicago Tribune, Oct. 13, 1918--but it was not the 10/6/18 message. 7. The "Brockway Copy" that has been circulated, was a re-broad- cast of the "Cable Copy". 8. The Secretary of State should have the "Original Copy" of that message, as received in Washington, via "wire". It was an important message. 9. Because he doesn' as my search has proved, then we must conclude that it has been "deliberately buried". 10. The Govt. has released--and the Library of Congress has--the "Cable Copy printed form, for release. THE REASONING BEHIND THIS (I think)is the Navy Rule-- "No communicating with the enemy, in time of war." The Government wants the public to know they were acting on the "Cable Copy" of that Peace Overture from Germany, which came via the Swiss Embassy. In this way, they violated no "Rule" of the Navy. with my report, as above, I think it best to CALL IT A DAY. Herb.