369

POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, November 14th, 1940.

Present :

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

Secretary

Parliamentary Secretary

Sir Maurice Peterson

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Fraser

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Beddington

Mr. Tree.

Mr. Valentine Williams

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. BANNING OF PERIODICALS FOR EXPORT

In discussion on the paper which had been circulated the Secretary explained that he fully agreed with the D.G.’s addition to the paper, which gave it a much firmer conclusion. The D.D.G. referred to the strict legal position and explained that power was given in Regulations 2(C) and 2(D) to prohibit systematic publication of matter which was intended to foment opposition to the prosecution of the war to a successful issue. It appeared to him that this was the power which Parliament had expected should be exercised to deal with subversive propaganda so far as it was produced in this country; no distinction had apparently been contemplated between circulation at home and circulation abroad. The only other statutory power which appeared relevant was that conferred by Defence Regulations 39(B), which enabled a Secretary of State to prevent matter being published in this country which was likely to prejudice our relations with other countries, except under safeguards imposed by him. Regulation 11, which was being used at present in order to stop export of subversive material, dealt with postal packets and with the classes of material which could be stopped, but he and Mr. Radcliffe agreed that this could hardly have been intended to give power to stop export of subversive material in general or particular publications by name.

It was generally agreed that it would be desirable, in dealing with subversive propaganda, to draw a distinction between matter which could do little harm at home and matter which it would be undesirable to allow abroad. The suggestion that the Spanish Government's objection to export of subversive papers from this country should be dealt with by an import ban in Spain was not quite adequate since much of our difficulty arose from circulation of material distributed from this country in South America. It was noted that the objection of the Swinton Committee and of several of the Departments who had urged the maintenance of a ban on export, was very general. The objectors, in fact, were people who objected on general grounds to circulation of Communist (and Fascist) papers anywhere. They were advocating the ban on export because that was the nearest they could get to a complete ban on publication.

[Filed an HP/336 Part e.]

In view of the doubtful legality of the Ministry's exercise of the powers at present under Regulation 11, it was agreed that it would be desirable to have the Home Office and Foreign Office consider the question, possibly in conference 370 -2-with the D.D.G. It would be necessary to have a new Regulation - which the Ministry would be obliged to administer, but for which it would not have public responsibility. Meantime we should have to continue the existing practice.

2. DIFFICULTIES IN MINISTRY'S RELATIONS WITH THE BRITISH COUNCIL .

The Minister explained that he had not considered the question suitable for discussion at the Policy Committee, and added that he had it in mind to raise the matter in the Cabinet.

3. G.P.O. FILM UNIT - REQUISITIONING OF ACCOMMODATION .

Mr. Bamford reported that he had heard from the Ministry of Works about the rent asked for at Denham. The letter he had received had referred to the claims of other Departments, but in a reply which he had sent, after consulting D.G., he had been very firm about the Ministry's claim to priority consideration. The Ministry of Works had been directed to proceed with the negotiations within the limit of the terms quoted in their report. It had become clear that requisitioning would not be necessary, and in view of the reasonable terms we should probably get by negotiation, it would not be very useful. It was suggested that Mr. Beddington should see that as much space as was required was actually occupied at Denham. Mr. Beddington undertook to see that this was done.

4. G.P.O. FILM UNIT - GENERAL PROGRAMME .

D.G. referred to the paper which had been circulated and explained that as it was clearly necessary to maintain the Unit, the question was merely on what terms its programme should be arranged. What was proposed was actually within the allocation agreed upon by the Treasury, but it would be necessary to report to the Treasury upon the continuance of the Unit. The programme set out in the paper was accepted.