447 448

S.R
SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, 11th September 1941.

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Gates

Mr. Tree

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Ryan

Admiral Carpendale

Colonel Heywood

Mr. Easton

Mr. McIvor

Mr. Ogilvie

Colonel Francis

Lord Hood

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS .

2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING APPROVED

3. A.F.I.

D.G. to inform the Minister that a report will shortly be forthcoming.

4. APPOINTMENT OF CONTROLLERS.

Mr. Bamford to arrange for notification of appointment of Mr. Royds and Mr. Gates.

5. CANADIAN TRANSMITTER

Mr. Ogilvie reported that he had now reached agreement with Mr. Robertson and that a draft telegram was ready for despatch to the Prime Minister of Canada.

6. CO-OPERATION WITH U.S.A. OVER BROADCASTING MATTERS.

Mr. Ogilvie said he had discussed this matter with a U.S. Delegation, consisting of Mr. Sherwood, Mr. Gross and Mr. Whitney. The subjects raised were:-

(a) Better use and development of short wave facilities.

(b) The erection here or in Iceland of a U.S. medium wave station for broadcasting to Europe.

(c) Rebroadcasting by the B.B.C. of American programmes.

(d) Exchange of monitoring intelligence.

[B/190]

The Committee agreed that Sir Noel Ashridge should be authorised to discuss these matters with Mr. Gross, giving him full information of our plans.

7. PRIORITIES.

The Committee discussed the position of the B.B.C. in the light of the Prime Minister's recent order. It was agreed that the triple expansion scheme should be pressed forward, but that the grant of the Minister's certificate in respect of the extension of Broadcasting House should be held up for the present.

8. SHOOTING OF NORWEGIAN TRADE UNIONISTS BY THE GERMANS.

B.B.C. to give fullest publicity.

9. CONTACT WITH INTER-ALLIED GOVERNMENTS ON PROPAGANDA MATTERS.

The Committee agreed that such work would fall to the Ministry and not to P.W.E. and that some expansion of the appropriate section of the Ministry might be required.

10. TOM HARRISON.

Mr. Bamford pressed for a decision regarding his employment in the Ministry.

11. PROPAGANDA IN IRELAND.

The Committee agreed that there was no objection to the Ministry facilitating the journey to Ireland of British theatrical performers.