Draft Cabinet Paper.

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63 64 -2-

Draft Cabinet Paper .

For discussion at Policy Committee .

I wish to draw the attention of my colleagues to the increasing strain put upon the resources of broadcasting in and from this country in the present stage of the war. The inclination of us all must be to put the needs of the fighting Services above those of propaganda and the requirements of security above those of information. I submit, however, that we must learn from Germany that in total warfare the propaganda service is itself a fighting service. In present circumstances broadcasting is the most powerful and important arm of that service, and I wish to ensure that an effective wireless service is maintained in this country, and an effective Overseas service which will keep our position and our claims before the world. I suggest, moreover, that, particularly in the absence of other forms of entertainment, the needs of broadcasting must be met if the people of this country - soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians - are to be. supported in their cheerful endurance of the winter campaign.

I should be grateful if my colleagues would consider the following statement of the main difficulties with which broadcasting is now faced and of the action which I suggest should be taken to lessen those difficulties:-

1. Medium-wave transmitters are closed down for longer and longer periods by order of the Air Ministry to prevent their giving navigational assistance to the enemy. Short- wave transmitters have been added to the Home Service and Forces Programmes to supplement the work normally done by the medium wave transmitters, but only a limited number of listeners can hear these short-wave services well. This involves some weakening of the Overseas Service.

I ask that the Air Ministry shall make every concession to the needs of broadcasting which considerations of security will permit, and in particular that permission be granted for the use of at least ten low-power medium- wave transmitters, so placed as to serve densely populated areas as a supplement and alternative to existing services.

2. Technical staff of the B.B.C. has been seriously depleted by the urgent demands of other Departments. The recent seconding of 50 engineers to the Air Ministry makes the B.B.C. staff 130 below strength. Remaining staff must work additional overtime till recruits have been found.	I ask that no more such demands be made and that search be made in the ranks of the fighting services for men who could profitably be released to carry out this skilled and essential work.
3. Broadcasting House appears to be a target for air attack and neighbouring studios have already been put out of commission. The number of staff working in Broadcasting House has had to be reduced, to some detriment of foreign broadcast services, and the numbers are still greater than common prudence would demand. Transmitters must always be vulnerable to aerial attack and line communications to both aerial attack and sabotage.	I ask that all reasonable facilities and priorities be given to the B.B.C.
	a) in its continued search for alternative accommodation which will enable it to carry on its services if its present buildings are destroyed,
	b) in the multiplication of its staff where required for the building up of reserves,
	c) in the building of transmitters and the carrying out of repairs.
4. Service Departments claim the use of transmitters in case of emergency for their own operational uses. Such claims must necessarily lessen the efficiency of the broadcasting system at the very moment at which our countrymen need guidance and information and the world needs to be given a sober and truthful picture of events to defeat the claims of enemy propaganda.	One cannot legislate for moments of acute crisis, but I ask that it be recognised that my Ministry has urgent claims to make on British transmitters and their use all over the world. I ask that no decision to limit the power of transmitters or to use them for now purposes be made without consultation with me.
5. The enemy commands transmitters in many occupied countries and has spent large sums of money for years past in creating a propaganda machine and a broadcasting service which will be its efficient instrument. The B.B.C.'s service of foreign broadcasts has been hurriedly expanded to meet the emergency of the war. It must be developed and improved in every way. This requires men and money.	I ask for recognition of the principle that the development of British broadcasting is of great importance, and of the fact that such development implies a readiness to spend money on the service.

L.W.

N.G.S.

7th October,1940.

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