TREASURY CHAMBERS,

WHITEHALL, S.W.

5th July, 1940.

Dear Lee,

Recent questions in Parliament have referred to the danger of leakage of important information through aliens who may be residing either as visitors or as servants in the homes of persons occupying official positions. The Chiefs of Staff have also given attention to this question.

I should be glad if you would take every possible step to impress upon all members of the Staff of your Department who might be concerned with the grave responsibility which rests upon all persons who are in possession of confidential information to take the utmost care that there shall be no opportunities for the leakage of such information to unauthorised persons whether aliens or British subjects.

There is need for special care on the part of those concerned as regards the inmates of their own households. It should be remembered that in the present circumstances the presence in the household of an alien whether as a visitor or servant may not only give rise to potential dangers but may create apprehension in the public mind that sufficient care has not been taken by those in positions of responsibility. Accordingly Civil Servants in responsible positions who have residing in their houses any person who is not a British Subject should report the fact to the Head of their Department. Heads of Departments should then deal with each case in the light of the considerations mentioned above and should only give their consent if, as may well be, there are circumstances justifying an arrangement which should be regarded as exceptional.

If consent is given to a Civil Servant in a responsible position to retain in his household an alien domestic servant or a refugee from France or Belgium who has been billeted on him, this consent should be subject to the condition that he reports the particulars to his Establishment Officer who should in turn report them to the Home Office, (P.O. Box No. 100, Paddington District Office, W.2), and ascertain from the Home Office that nothing is known against the alien in question.

Yours very truly,

(Sgd.) H.J. WILSON.

Sir Kenneth Lee.