“PEN-FRIEND” DANGERS

Evening Star, Issue 24324, 13 October 1942, Page 2

“PEN-FRIEND” DANGERS

INFORMATION FOR ENEMY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. “Pen-friend” letters are now to be officially discouraged, in terms of a decision of the defence authorities. No penalty will be exacted from those found to be writing “ pen-friend ” letters, but very few letters of that type addressed to foreign countries will be allowed to pass the censorship. The decision lias been made necessary in the interests of the security of New Zealand and to further the Allied war effort.

“ Pen-friend ” correspondence may seem a harmless enough pastime, says an official statement, but in time of war there is a grave danger that “ penfriends ” may be deliberately cultivated by the enemy as a valuable source of information. No loyal New Zealander would like to feel that he was acting as an honorary agent for the enemy, and all “ pen-friend ” correspondence should immediately be stopped, even if it is of long standing. Letters of all kinds are regarded by all military intelligence organisations as a valuable source of information, and “ pen-friend ” letters are in some respects better material than ordinary letters. In general, letters between relatives and friends contain a good deal of personal matter, but, having no personal background in common, “ pen-friends ” must write of other things, and the danger of giving away information of value to the enemy is correspondingly increased.