GERMAN ’PHONE CALLS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1935, Page 8

GERMAN ’PHONE CALLS

LISTENING-IN TO EMBASSIES BERLIN, September 27. Though the law “suspending” the freedom of speech of the Press, the post,, telegraph, and telephone is nominally only provisional, steps now being taken suggest that listening-in to telephone conversations is intended to be permanent. The object is two-fold. “Enemies.of the State” who are Imprudent enough to discuss on the telephone matters which Germans do not usually comment upon can be brought to book; at the same time a useful indication of public opinion is afforded in the absence of free comment in the Press at public gatherings. The scheme now adopted divides all telephone users into three categories: , Those under so-called “strict sup- . ervision,” which is exercised by the secret police with the aid of gramophone records. This applies to embassies, legations, consulates, newspaper correspondents, ex-politici-ans, many Jews, and other persons suspected of disaffection. Every word spoken on such lines can be automatically recorded on dictaphone records. Persons not regarded as quite “safe,” but not at present considered ; sufficiently important to be placed under permanent supervision. This category extends to practically all Jews, to Protestant and Roman Catholic pastors. Those who have not yet been adjudged of sufficient interest to fall into categories 1 or 2, but who are subjected from time to time to test controls.

The “light supervision” to which the second category is subjected is carried out, not by the secret police but by telephone employees working under their orders. Girls - listening in to foreigners are selected for their knowledge of languages. They are called upon to note any assignations made and to report them in time for an agent te. be despatched. Public call offices are subjected to special arrangements. When the supervisingofficial hears any conversation which he regards as “subversive” he presses a button which rings a bell at a police post. The posts are so grouped that any public telephone booth can be reached by motor-cycle within one minute.