Ext 6765/46 'Requests by Political Resident Persian Gulf for copies of General Instructions, Regulations (Orders in Council) etc for the Residency' [‎28r] (55/158)

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the factors to be taken into account, which would vary largely from post to post,
would be, on the one hand, the cost of cyphering, transmission by diplomatic
wireless or cable and decyphering and, on the other hand, the cost of transmission
by air, with or without a King’s Messenger as the case might be (and, if with
one, with an allowance for his pay). It seems probable that, if only a few items
^ere involved, the telegraph, at any rate by diplomatic wireless, would be cheaper
md that, when the Diplomatic Wireless Service has been extended and machine
cyphering and decyphering introduced, air bags might virtually fall out of use.
The question, however, is one of some complexity and we recommend that it
should be made the subject of research. It would be for the Statistical and
Costings Section of the department to elucidate matters of this kind. It is,
however, at any rate clear that air bags should not be continued as a matter of
course and that no material should be sent off by more costly means than considera
tions of urgency or security require.
70. Savings.—The journeys of King’s Messengers and the cost of unaccom
panied confidential air bags are among the largest headings of expenditure on
communications. It Will be some time before we can estimate the extent to which
reductions can be effected on the basis of the preceding paragraphs. We antici
pate, however, that important savings would be made.
C.—Possible Transfer of Functions
71. Other economies in money and man-power might result if the Com
munications Department were relieved of certain duties not really a part of
communications work. In paragraphs 32 and 33 I have referred to' the possible
transfer of—•
(i) the distribution, &c., of telegrams; and
(ii) the Despatch Section;
and have recommended that this should be re-examined in about six months.
Travel Section
72. There is also the Travel Section of Communications Department, which
does not concern itself with the journeys of King’s Messengers. We recommend
that this Section should be transferred to the Conference Department and we
understand that arrangements for this are already being made. This Section
clearly belongs to the administrative branch of the Foreign Office.
Security Work
73. We further recommend that the Security Department should take over
all work relating to security, except such as concerns communications and technical
services.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
74. The following is a summary of our recommendations: —
A. Telegrams
Paragraphs
Introduction of revised categories ... ... 16, 17, 18
Provision of time-tables for telegrams, bags, post, &c. ... 19, 20
Readjustment of night staff 21
Earlier despatch of telegrams to Communications Depart-
ment .... ... ... ... ... ... 21
Relation of speed to urgency and cypher to secrecy ... 22 , 23, 24
Preparation and circulation of instruction booklet ... 25
The training of junior officers in communications work ... 26
Establishment of focal points of contact in other govern
ment departments and instruction of the officers
therein ... ... ... ... ... . 27
Introduction of a system of closer scrutiny ... ... 28, 29
Secondment of an inspector for supervision of new
arrangements ... ... ... ... ... 39
Possible transfer of distribution, &c., and Despatch
Section from Communications Department 32, 33