Sending Wilson was not necessarily a bad idea. Often time the best way to find out something is to ask. And Wilson may have been a good choice to go and ask.

During the early 80′s when the USSR was fielding its latest main battle tank the T-80, there was a lot of concern as to the size of the tank’s main gun. If it were larger then those in the west,(The western tanks only had a 105mm gun)the soviets could have had a significant advantage.

This was made a top priority of western intelligence services. Western spies in Poland were sent over the fence into tank parks (and caught) satellite photos were taken and analyzed, signals intelligence made any traffic regarding the tank a priority, all to no avail.

Then at an embassy reception a French general asked a Russian general, “What is the size of the main gun on your new T-80?” “120mm” Replied the Russian.

Lesson: it never hurts to ask.

However, if asking doesn’t work, that in no way means that the issue is over. It would be like taking a suspect into an interview room and asking “did you steal the car?” and releasing the suspect when he answers no.