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SECRET
CC
POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, 3rd April, 1941

Present:

Minister

D.G.,

D.D.G.,

P.S.,

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson,

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Ogilvie

Sir Noel Ashbridge

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Valentine Williams

Mr. Herbert

Mr. Hodson

Mr. Douglas Williams

Mr. Beddington

Mr. Waddell

(Secretary)

1. The Minutes of the Meeting of 20th March were taken as read and approved.

2. (end) PUBLICITY IN AMERICA

[AM/111]

The Paper prepared by Mr. Douglas Williams, which had been circulated, was discussed and it was agreed that the general line of propaganda indicated in it was the line which should be taken in all propaganda for foreign and enemy countries - not only for the United States. The B.B.C. confirmed the need for a more constructive theme at this stage than “Britain can take it”, which had served well but should now be dropped.

Reference was made to the possibility of increasing the proportion of propaganda at home devoted to emphasising the horrors of German domination, and it was understood that the disagreeableness of the subject matter tended to discourage people from attending films based on this theme; members of the public were also somewhat suspicious of pamphlets based on atrocity stories. The Prime Minister, however, was anxious that the permanent degradation of populations in occupied countries should be brought out, particularly in posters for factories etc. and it was agreed that emphasis in general should be laid on the human tragedy of wholesale deportations etc. rather than on torture and physical ill treatment.

At Lord Davidson's suggestion, it was agreed that in view of the emphasis in the suggested theme “Britain can produce and deliver the goods”, it would be well to inform the Board of Trade of the general lines on which the Ministry was working so that there would be no danger of propaganda losing touch with Government policy on this matter.

[CR/54/13.]

3. EAST COAST TRANSMITTER

[RC/31/15.]

The Paper by the D.D.G. which had been circulated was explained by Sir Noel Ashbridge, who said he had suggested to the Post Office and the Air Ministry the possibility of a site S. of the Thames, other than Caterham, and also the possibility of a site north of the Humber. He hoped to be able to arrange a meeting within a day or two with representatives of these Departments and if no agreement could be reached, it might then be necessary to bring the matter before the War Cabinet. It was hoped that at the next meeting of the Committee it would be possible to report progress.

In the course of discussion the Minister referred to questions put to him by Captain Plugge, and Sir Noel Ashbridge agreed to provide the Minister with a note of what the B.B.C. considered it would be proper to let Captain Plugge know of existing arrangements for broadcasting overseas.

4. B.B.C. TALKS FROM DUBLIN

[B/41]

Mr. Hodson said he was anxious to obtain the views of the Ministry on a proposal that a regular commentary spoken by an Irishman from Dublin should be included in the Home broadcasts of the B.B.C., since this might be one of the few ways of persuading listeners in Eire to hear the B.B.C. Home Service. It would be intended that such a commentary should be done say, once a fortnight, and that possibly one in three should be given by a person from Northern Ireland. The subject matter would necessarily be confined fairly strictly to internal Irish affairs. The B.B.C. would be quite prepared to include such a broadcast but felt they needed the cover of an official decision in view of the strong objections which might be raised in Northern Ireland.

The Minister did not feel very sure what the object of our propaganda would be, except that the situation might be altered if America entered the war - when it might be extremely useful for the American Fleet to have the use of Irish ports. He agreed with the view understood to be held by the Secretary of State for the Dominions, that there were difficulties in approving the suggestion; and he did not feel that it would be wise for a B.B.C. man to be sent to Dublin at this stage. He agreed that an important point was the fact that the Military Authorities in Northern Ireland were anxious that Propaganda should be undertaken in Eire.

It was generally agreed that all possible stress should be laid on the power and weight of assistance from America in all our Propaganda to neutral countries, in Europe and elsewhere.

5. “THE NEW ORDER”

It was agreed that the pamphlet by the Ministry of Economic Warfare which was appearing that day should be given the maximum publicity.

6. SINGAPORE TRANSMITTER

[RC/31/4]

Sir Noel Ashbridge reported that the transmitter which had been on the way to Singapore had been sunk and the B.B.C. were considering two possibilities in Order to replace it; the transmitter which they owned in Canada and one intended for Finland which was not yet completed. It might be that the incomplete Finnish transmitter would supply the main parts required for the Singapore station.

7. “ THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN “

[GP/39/246]

The Minister referred to difficulties in securing copies of this pamphlet. Lord Davidson explained that additional copies of the first edition without illustrations should now be available and he added that within nine or ten days the illustrated edition which was a very fine piece of work, should be on sale. Printing for overseas was being undertaken in America and the Dominions.