https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/d30dd3199aac383ae243b4d8ba064962.pdf 5dcc1cdf00bc5a3ed46bfc87549ecf10 PDF Text Text C o ^ ^ ^ ^ m P Y **£%$%.*•• w»* L""» ^*»« h e Access Arcessto to Information _ DDocument ° C U ' S l r ! ! disclosed ^ i S C i ° s e d ,untjer % W l Ithe '"formation ActAct D CUm ° j f f i l y ".15 , 4 ^ MT*cces a I'informat Dear John, I am sorry not to have replied before this to your letter of December 22 in which you asked me about our plans for the u ^ of the Hydra communications system In wartime. 2. I understand that British users, of whom the main ones are, as you say, the Embassy in Washington, the Delegation to the U.N. In New York and the High Commission in Canada in communication with Government Departments in V'hitehall, account for about 31$ of the traffic carried over the system in peacetime. No doubt in wartime the system would be available for use by any of the surviving members. Y/e should certainly hope to use it for communication from the Foreign Office to our Foreign Service posts in Washington and New York, for example, and arrangements will be made on the U.K. side for the U.K. terminal at the system to be transferred at the appropriate time to the site of the emergency Government HQ in war. I cannot at this stage say whether the Americans are similarly planning to transfer the Hydra terminal In the U.S. to their wartime site0 This is a subject on which you may have more information than ourselves? 3* I imagine that it would also be reasonable to expect Hydra to provide limited facilities for the Canadian, British and U.S. authorities generally If other means of trans-Atlantic communication failed. I am afraid we cannot estimate what the volume of traffic is likely to be, but It would undoubtedly be heavy. 4. If you agree. I think there is one precaution we should take now to ensure that your Hydra terminal remains In touch with Foreign Service and C.R.O. posts in wartime. The DWS have issued crystals for two common frequencies to all their stations at Foreign Service and C.R.O. posts, so that, radio condition! permitting, there can be intercommunication between them the event of the complete elimination of DV.'S stations In U.K. If your radio station Is given similar crystals with appri! instructions, it will be able in wartime to call any DV/S st tlon which radio conditions might bring within range. This facility would be most valuable for us and also, I think, useful to you for the transmission of your telegram through our post3 to Canadian representatives. As soon as I have your agreement to this, the DWS will make the necessary arrangements. 5. I am sending a copy of your letter and my reply to Walker in the CRO In case he wishes to add anything. Hr John Starnes - t of E y ; i - ' *rs ever> , fuigae'E II.t.. . tephenson. to Yo ... turns # -L # 000023 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Hydra Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context HY00229 Title A name given to the resource [Hydra wartime planning] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/25/1962 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Hydra Communications - Policy, RG24, 1250-36 Vol. 2, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Department of National Defence Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Canadian Crown Subject The topic of the resource Emergency planning, emergency communications, UK Foreign Office, DWS, CRO, radio communications Description An account of the resource Letter from Hugh Stephenson (UK Foreign Office) to John Starnes (External Affairs, Ottawa) pertaining to use of Hydra network in event of war/emergency. Stephenson agrees some measures should be taken to protect Hydra, suggests Canadians should investigate what Americans plan to do in this respect. Stephenson suggests crystal sets as backup radio communication facility in the event of Hydra failure. Duplicate of <a href="https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/9072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HY00131</a>. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource en