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ANGLO-FRENCH CONFERENCE JUNE 3rd,1940.
DECISIONS TAKEN AT FIRST SESSION

1. Coordination of Information

The Ministers examined the present working of the Censorship and Information Services in the two countries and particularly the question of military information. They agreed to establish the [illegible] co-operation in this field. For this to be possible it is essential for the staffs concerned with the drawing up of communiqués, instructions and regulations to reach agreement. The two departments should be instructed as soon as possible regarding the lines to be taken by them.

The two Ministers agreed to have a daily meeting of their representatives in Paris in order to draw up during the morning general directions which will be immediately communicated to London.

As far as Censorship is concerned, the French Minister expressed his appreciation of the measures recently taken by his British colleague with a view to controlling the B.B.C. news and making joint statements of policy.

Where the Press is concerned, the French Minister is confident that his colleague will take the necessary steps to prevent the publication of any news except that agreed on by the two countries in conjunction.

2. The Coordination of Air Information

The two Ministers agreed to ask the Air Minister in the two allied countries to collaborate closely in the issue of information and instructions to the censors.

3. Co-operation regarding broadcasts in foreign languages

A technical Commission is to be set up as soon as possible in Paris at the headquarters of the Radiodiffusion. It will include for each country a technician and a specialist for broadcasts in foreign languages. Its aim will be to classify the different countries in the following categories:

(1) Countries having broadcasts from English stations only

(2) Countries having broadcasts from French stations only

(3) Countries which can usefully be served by both French and English stations.

The Commission will settle in addition questions relating to the hours at which such foreign language broadcasts are to be given, and technical questions relating to the organisation of relays in the case of category (2).

EH.

The suggested organisation would he as follows: For countries belonging to Group (l) French specialists in London would receive daily instructions from Monsieur Fouques-Duparcq. They would draw up in collaboration with their English colleagues the text of the Franco- British broadcasts to the countries in question.

For countries belonging to Group (2), the English specialists in Paris would receive daily instructions from London and would draw up the Anglo-French text in collaboration with their French colleagues.

For countries belonging to Group (3), specialist committees can be set up either in Paris (as in case (2)) or in London (as in case (l).) In some countries where specialists may ultimately be separated, contact will be maintained by telephone.

In order not to make too much use of the telephone between Paris and London, contact will be established by the B.B.C. and the Radiodiffusion by means of short waves which will be used for all communications not requiring secrecy, and in particular for relays in case (3).

4. Increase of Telephone Communications.

M. Jules Julien, Ministre des Transmissions, joined the meeting and said that there were at present six telephone circuits between France and England. New circuits were being put into use as follows:

15th June 2 new circuits

18th June 2 new supplementary circuits.

From June 21st this number will be increased until a total of 30 is reached.

The circuits will be extended into France in various directions.

5. Scheme for Anglo-French Broadcasts.

The two Ministers considered the possibility of a daily Anglo-French broadcast from London by the B.B.C. and from Paris by the French Radio. It was decided that the two bodies should start as soon as possible, for purposes of experiment, ¼-hour broadcasts to be given two or three times a week devoted exclusively to show the solidarity of the two allied countries.

6. Collaboration in Film Activities

The two Ministers agreed in principle to a conference in the near future between the heads of the Film Divisions of the two Ministries. The objects of this conference will be :-

a) Increase in the distribution of the Journal de Guerre and of the French newsreels in Great Britain, and in particular the development of the distribution in France of British newsreels.

b) The exchange of documentary films on the armed forces and material resources

c) Exhibition of long French films in Great Britain and the formation to this end of a general Franco-British Company under the common patronage of the two Ministries of Information with the object of selecting the best French films, arranging for their sound tracks and for English subtitles, and for their distribution in Great Britain.

d) Increase of the number of mobile film units of the British Ministry of Information already exhibiting Franco-British programmes in France

e) Direct collaboration for the production of films, whether in France or Great Britain in French and English versions.

8th June, 1940.