SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
Monday, 12th August 1940

Present :

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Peake

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Wiltshire) (Secretaries)

Mr. Waddell )

Mr. Ogilvie

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Valentine Williams

1. PRESS CENSORSHIP

Sir Walter Monckton referred to the points made in Mr. Radcliffe's paper which had been circulated, and pointed out the difficulties which would be involved if a decision were taken to disperse the censorship staff. The Minister mentioned that plans for press censorship in time of emergency had originally been based on the assumption that the evacuation of London would take place at a fairly early stage. In present circumstances he doubted whether any special arrangements would be called for. Some doubt was felt also whether, even if no special arrangements were made, it would be possible to give the press any guidance on our intentions. Clearly our course must be to keep in line with the policy of other Government departments, which was that preparations must be made against evacuation however remote the possibility of evacuation was considered to be.

In the course of discussion Mr. Ryan mentioned the arrangements made between the Service Departments, the big newspapers and the B.B.C. for a pool of war correspondents who would include foreign journalists. The material produced by these correspondents would be examined by field censors and might amount to a considerable proportion of the news available in emergency. It was agreed that the Ministry's censorship arrangements need not be affected by this pool of war correspondents.

2. REGULATION 39BA

Colonel Scorgie reported that Mr. Mander's motion for the withdrawal of the Regulation had been withdrawn and that for the time being the question had been settled by the Home Secretary's statement in the House in answer to a question by Mr. Mander (copy attached).

3. ENTERTAINMENT QUESTION

Sir Kenneth Clark explained that considerable interest was being taken in the provision of entertainment by the Ministry of Labour and the Board of Education. Mr. Priestley had raised the matter with the Minister of Labour. Sir Kenneth Clark and Mr. Ogilvie were seeing Mr. Ramsbotham at lunch today and would be able to report developments afterwards. The Minister agreed that if the Board of Education asked for the Ministry's support in approaching the Treasury, he would be willing to give it. The Director General mentioned a request he had received from the