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∂CSL Dr. Lewis Branscomb↓

Dear Dr. Branscomb:

	Maybe this is well known to IBM, but perhaps it isn't.

	While in West Germany, I recently visited xx,
who moved to West Germany from East Germany about two years ago.

	While in East Germany he worked
for Robotron, the East German firm that makes IBM compatible
computers.  He told me that IBM had sold a computer to an organization
called Grosz-Rechnen-Centrum in Karl-Marx Stadt in East Germany.
The other side of the same building was occupied by Robotron.  He
said that IBM came to inspect the computer every month or so to be
sure that it was used only for the purposes for which it was sold.
However, there was a secret switch that connected the computer to
a buss on which could be put IBM compatible peripherals being
developed by Robotron.  He supposed that IBM had secretly agreed
to this, since he supposed that it would be obvious, since Robotron
was in the same building.

	I have less confidence than xx that people will see what other
people regard as obvious.

	I have omitted his name from the letter, since I suppose that
copies may be passed around, but if you want to contact him, I'll be
glad to tell you his name and present affiliation.

	He has a good research position, and told me this only when
I asked him what he knew about the East bloc copying of IBM and D.E.C.
computers.  Thus I'm sure he wasn't after money or making himself
important.

.sgn