230

POLICY COMMITTEE
10th June 1940

[1. [illegible] Bulletins.]

[2. Anger.]

[3. [illegible].]

[4. W.O. [illegible].]

[5. [illegible].]

[6. [illegible].]

Present:

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Peake

Mr. Wellington

P.P.S.

Mr. Gates

Sir Campbell Stuart

Mr. Ogilvie

Sir Noel Ashbridge

Sir Stephen Tallents

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Wiltshire (secretary)

1. CENSORSHIP

The Minister referred to the progress of the discussion on censorship. A paper was now being prepared putting forward to the Cabinet three possible alternatives. (1) Compulsory Censorship. (2) That the Press should be allowed only to publish war news given out by the Ministry. (3) A combination of the two.

2. ANGLO-FRENCH CONFERENCE OF JUNE, 3rd. DECISIONS TAKEN AT FIRST SESSION

Co-ordination of Information

The Director General said that the measures suggested in paragraph 1. of the decisions would appear to require preparatory work with an Anglo-French commission in Paris. Sir Stephen Tallents reported that he had received a telegram last night from Paris saying that in the present circumstances the French considered daily co-ordination impracticable, and asking us now to take over as a joint Anglo-French programme broadcasting for the four Scandinavian countries and in Magyar.

In effect therefore the proposals of paragraph 1 are in abeyance.

Co-ordination of Air Information

It was agreed that the Air Ministry should be asked to take action on this matter.

Co-ordination Regarding Broadcasts in Foreign Languages

These proposals may equally be considered to be in abeyance.

Mr. Ogilvie produced a list of programmes with an Anglo-French implication to illustrate what was being done.(Annex 1)

Mr. Ogilvie and Sir Noel Ashbridge mentioned that there were certain points which arose. There was the question how for it was wise to concentrate all broadcasting in any one language on one transmitter. It would also be necessary to get very good lines between Paris and this country. The ordinary speech telephone lines were not necessarily adequate for broadcasting purposes. In general it might be advantageous to use as many channels as possible in order to minimise the risk of jamming. Mr. Wellington pointed out that when the question arose again it 231 should be fully understood that the joint editing of bulletins was extremely difficult in practice, and that it would only be possible generally to achieve a common directive. There was the difficulty that differences of policy sometimes existed between different branches of the French Government.

Increase of Telephone Communications

Noted.

Scheme for Angle-French Broadcasts

Noted. In abeyance

Collaboration Film Activities

Sir Kenneth Clark observed that all the points raised by the two Ministers had already been discussed in the preceding months, but all arrangements depended on taking compulsory powers with the exhibitors. Unless this was done there was no guarantee that the films would be exhibited in either country however successfully they were produced. As to points (c) and (e) it was mentioned that any general conference of films programmes ought to take place in this country rather than in France and that joint films should generally be taken in France is possible because of the background.

It was decided that we should investigate whether powers can be taken to force exhibitors to show films to the requirements or both countries, but that we should not proceed with the formation of the joint company referred to in (c)

3. LORD DAVIDSON'S PROPOSALS

The Director General reported that these had been further discussed and that he proposed to speak to the Minister further about them during the day.

4. INSTRUCTIONS AS TO ACTION ON INVASION

Mr. Nicolson referred to the draft instructions produced by the War Office which had been considered by most of his Committee to be entirely unsuitable for publication in their present form. He had now redrafted the document, and the assent of the War Office and the Ministry of Home Security would have to be secured. He pointed out that the levee en masse was implicit in the War Office instructions. Various expedients were suggested to the public which would be regarded as justification by the enemy for considering them as francs-tireurs. It was for the Cabinet to decide whether the obvious risks of issuing such instructions were to be taken.

The Director General pointed out that it would be difficult for the public to know at what stage to take up any operations or from whom to take orders. Sir Kenneth Clark pointed out that there were in the instructions certain sections dealing with such points, e.g. action behind the enemy lines and the use of new weapons, which could if necessary be detached from the main documents. It would be for the Cabinet to decide whether these paragraphs should form part of the instructions or not.

5. FRENCH MORALE

It was pointed out by Mr. Kirkpatrick that the enemy was concentrating in his propaganda on creating in the minds of the French the feeling that they were alone in the present trouble. This view was supported by Mr. Peake and Sir Campbell Stuart and 232 others. It seems that immediate action was required, and it was suggested that the Prime Minister should be invited to send a message to Mr. Reynaud or even to broadcast in French to the French nation the same evening. Alternatively the Minister might care to broadcast in French and would give a message from the Prime Minister. The Minister agreed to discuss this with the Prime Minister.

6. REQUEST FROM M. MASSON

M. Masson, the French broadcasting liaison officer in London has expressed a wish to broadcast to France on the Emergency Powers Act, and has asked for facilities to interview every Minister to get the necessary background. After discussion it was agreed that we would arrange as many interviews as was reasonably possible and that the Minister himself would see M. Masson.

ADDUNDUM TO MINUTES OF 7th JUNE, [illegible].

Insert after and asked Lord Davidson how his proposed scheme would improve the following:

Lord Davidson stated that from enquiries he had made he was satisfied that the Stationary Office should continue to be responsible for Printing and Distribution.

[£100, 000 & have [illegible] proposals]