Cipher Bureau, first American agency to collect communications intel-
ligence (COMINT). April–May:President Wilson invokes federal laws
restricting the movements of enemy aliens in the U.S. Bureau of Inves-
tigation is beefed up. U.S. Army establishes G-2 appellation for intelli-
gence within military units; G-2 establishes liaison with foreign coun-
terparts. 15 June:President Wilson signs the Espionage Act into law. 5
September:IWW offices raided by Bureau of Investigation agents and
American Protective League auxiliaries. September:President Wilson
takes steps to establish “the Inquiry.” October:Trading-with-the-En-
emy Act passed; allows federal government to open and censor mail,
the print press, and other communications. 12 October:President Wil-
son establishes National Censorship Board to implement Trading-with-
the-Enemy Act. 7 November:The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. No-
vember:Military Intelligence Section begins to incorporate American
Protective League auxiliaries into its ranks.
1918 February: Military Intelligence Section establishes unit to
study enemy propaganda and engage in counterpropaganda. April:
President Wilson endorses a strengthened Espionage Act, making spy-
ing for a foreign nation and speaking out against the U.S. and the war
federal offenses. 3 August:American military landings in Murmansk
and Archangel, Russia, to engage the Red Army. 26 August:Military
Intelligence Section taken out of the Army War College, renamed Mil-
itary Intelligence Division, and reestablished as independent unit under
General Staff. September:Military Intelligence Division establishes
unit to screen travelers to and from the U.S. October:Congress passes
the Immigration Act, allowing the government to deport aliens advo-
cating the violent overthrow of the U.S. government. 11 November:
World War I ends; Armistice Day. December:“Inquiry” becomes the
Division of Political and Territorial Intelligence of the American Peace
Commission.
1919 Agreement worked out between Military Intelligence Division
(MID) and the State Department to keep code-breaking operations
(Cipher Bureau) within MID. Cipher Bureau moves to New York City
under cover name Code Compilation Company; begins collecting
telegram traffic from cable companies. February:Peace Commission
establishes the Division of Current and Diplomatic Correspondence,
which sends agents abroad to collect current intelligence. State Depart-
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