POLICY COMMITTEE
12th July 1940

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

P.S.

Lord Perth

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

1. TELEGRAM TO LORD LOTHIAN ABOUT PEACE OFFENSIVE

The telegram was read and discussed. Some doubts were expressed whether the policy suggested by paragraph 7 of the telegram was in the line which we had hitherto been taking. In particular, the last sentence appeared to hint at policy contrary to the New Deal and at some form of free trade with the U.S.A. This difficulty seemed to emphasise the need of a definite policy from the Cabinet.

Mr. Kirkpatrick observed that the telegram had probably arisen out a feeling on the part of the Foreign Office that some form of defence must be organised against the possibility of a peace move by the enemy. During the discussion on the possible effect of such a peace move on home morale the view was again expressed that the people must be given a post war programme; for example, equality of opportunity, particularly in education, abolition of undue privilege, and so on. At this point Mr. Nicolson read a draft pamphlet intended for popular consumption, explaining what this country was fighting for. The pamphlet stopped short in dealing with the post war situation and could not well go on without further guidance. It was agreed that it should be rewritten as a leaflet with a covering minute to the Minister. It should not be pitched down too much, and it was hoped that the Cabinet might agree it in that form. In the meantime, Mr. Kirkpatrick would enquire from the Ministry of Economic Warfare what their policy was and ascertain whether we were in line. The telegram which he was drafting to Lord Lothian asking him to ascertain the U.S.A. Government's reaction to our difficulties as to the shipment of food to Europe would be produced for Monday.

2. REPORTS AND DIGESTS

Sir Walter Monckton referred to the various press summaries, foreign and home, and other reports which he had seen circulating in the Ministry and said that his impression was that there was a great deal of overlapping and waste of paper. He thought they should be looked into. It was explained that there had been a comprehensive review early in the year and that the value of these reports was frequently discussed. In view of the changed situation it was decided that the Policy Committee should enquire further into the matter next Tuesday. Examples of the different reports were to be collected for the purpose with notes as to their composition, use and distribution.

3. COMMUNISM

Sir Kenneth Clark stated that he had obtained the impression 291 on hearing the Labour Party organisers that the Labour Party were somewhat apprehensive at the new line taken by the Communist Party. He considered that they feared that the idea of arming all the workers and taking an active part in the war would attract the more vigorous elements of the Labour Party, and thus the Daily Worker Party would increase its influence at the expense of some of the better elements in the Labour Party. Mr. Macadam and Colonel Scorgie were inclined only to infer that the Labour Party thought that the Communist propaganda had become more insidious since it was aligning itself with movements to arm the workers. It was thus sharing important elements of policy with the Government and thereby strengthening its position. During the course of the discussion the Director General pointed out that the Minister had pronounced on several occasions very strongly that he was in favour of free comment in the Press.