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SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, 18th August 1941

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Francis Williams

Sir Victor Schuster

Mr. Gates

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Kirkpatrick

General Tripp

Admiral Carpendale

Colonel Heywood

Mr. Ridsdale

Mr. McIvor

Mr. Ogilvie

Colonel Francis

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The Service Advisers and Mr. Ridsdale and Mr. McIvor reported on the day's news and then left the meeting. Admiral Carpendale promised to enquire whether numbers of aircraft in our attacks could not again be released; and Mr. Mclvor promised to raise the question of releasing the low figure of casualties from enemy action in this country during the past week.

2. The minutes of the meeting on 21st August were taken as read and approved.

3. CLIPPER PASSAGES (See minutes of meeting on 21st August)

Mr. Bamford said he would be able to submit to the D.D.G that morning the draft of instructions for Communications Division. The D.G. emphasised the growing difficulties which were arising through promises being made [illegible] which could not be fulfilled. He hoped it would be possible to issue the instructions that day; perhaps it could be said that lecturers at least would ordinarily be expected to travel by sea, and it might also be worth while taking up with the American Embassy through the Foreign Office questions affecting restriction of passages [illegible] Lisbon and America.

4. CANADIAN TRANSMITTER

Mr. Ogilvie reported that he understood Mr. Mackenzie King was unlikely to be able to discuss this question during his visit. Mr. Ogilvie had seen Mr. Norman Macdonald and understood that the initiation of technical discussions would be welcome. The D.G. said he would mention this to the Minister.

5. VANSITTART PROPAGANDA

The D.D.G. referred to an article by J.A. Spender attacking the Vansittart [illegible] had been submitted to him by Publications Division for decision on whether Vansittart's diagnosis was right and whether it was right to continue propaganda on his lines, despite the Eight-Point Declaration. It was agreed that only the latter point was of importance to the Ministry and that since Vansittart could [illegible] that his writings were not in fact inconsistent with the Charter (despite the generally accepted view of their meaning) there would be no advantage in drawing attention at this stage to possible controversial issues.

6. ICELAND

It was understood that correspondents could not be sent from this country to Iceland, subject to accommodation being available [illegible] for them.