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SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday 15th May, 1941

Present:

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Ogilvie

Sir Noel Ashbridge

Mr. Valentine Williams

Mr. Herbert

Mr. Leigh Ashton

Mr. Douglas Williams

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 8th May were taken as read and approved. Mr. Radcliffe reported on item 3 that he had seen Colonel Hollis and had made an arrangement with him whereby Mr. Radcliffe could approach him on any question on which it seemed that prior guidance from the Chiefs of Staff would be useful to the Ministry.

2. BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

In reply to questions by the Minister Sir Noel Ashbridge explained that there was no transmitter in Cyprus, that the small private station in Malta would not give satisfactory reception in Italy and that the additional Palestine transmitter had been sunk. Mr. Macgregor reported that enquiries were in hand through the Crown Agents to ascertain what would be the best means of replacing the Palestine transmitter. It would be possible to push ahead with this matter immediately.

The Minister expressed the view that the position was unsatisfactory and it was agreed that the B.B.C. should as soon as possible prepare a plan for discussion with the Ministry to show where transmitters were most urgently needed and how far they could be supplied from resources in this country or America. It was pointed out that there would not be great difficulty about finance and that the real questions would be objections by the Service Departments to transmitters in the Mediterranean and difficulty in securing the transmitters themselves. Mr. Macgregor agreed to report on the position at the next meeting of the Committee.

It was understood that the B.B.C. had been notified that financial sanction had been obtained for the programme of treble expansion and that Mr. Ogilvie would discuss the next step with the D.G. that day.

3. HERR HESS

The D.G. explained in answer to questions from Mr. Valentine Williams and Mr. Douglas Williams (a) that he understood the Prime Minister did not intend to make a statement that day and (b) that no decision had yet been taken on whether photographs could be taken at this stage, possibly for release later. Mr. Radcliffe pointed out that it might be difficult to ensure that the right line was taken in regard to Hess when full information did become available. The Minister said, however, that he could see no alternative at present to encouraging the speculation already going on throughout the world and particularly in Germany and America.