400 401 - 2 -

SECRET.
POLICY COMMITTEE
6th March, 1941.

Present:

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Fraser

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Tree

Mr. Ogilvie

Mr. Valentine Williams

Mr. Herbert

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The Minutes of the meeting on the 27th February were taken as read and approved. The D.D.G reported in regard to the East Coast transmitter that the report of the Wireless Board referred to at the previous meeting had not yet been received, but that it was expected shortly; meantime a letter had been received from Mr. Innes of the Post Office, the tone of which suggested that Post Office objections might ultimately be withdrawn. It would not yet be appropriate for the Minister to write to the Postmaster General.

The Minister said he observed that the Planning Committee had taken note of the discussion at the last meeting about advertising in periodicals. He said he hoped something would follow from the discussion, and Sir Kenneth Clark undertook to make himself responsible for seeing that suitable campaigns received a showing in the periodical press.

[GP/6]

2. Explanation of Delays in Air Mail to and from the United States.

[RC/50/7]

The Minister referred to complaints received from American correspondents and others about delays is Air Mail services which were generally attributed to the British Censorship. Mr. Herbert said he had made searching enquiries about these delays and gave details showing the extent of delays on both westbound and eastbound traffic which was due not to censorship but to the quality of the service provided by Pan-American Airways.

He gave particulars of the westbound service - i.e., Lisbon to New York - between 1st. November 1940 and 6th February. The intention had been that there should be three flights a week, but in fact there had been only fourteen flights altogether with considerable gaps amounting in some cases to fifteen days, twelve days, eighteen days. No ‘plane had arrived in New York between December 4th and December 30th. At the same time British ‘planes had been flying regularly to Lisbon at least three times a week and the consequence was that at Lisbon there is now a vast accumulation of mail and the Post Office had on occasion sent some by sea, knowing that it would reach its destination more quickly.

In regard to the eastbound service there was an accumulation at New York, but there was also in this case a big accumulation at Bermuda which was not in any way due to censorship. There had been over the period of the enquiry only fourteen eastbound flights.

Mr. Herbert explained that outbound mail from this country was censored in London normally within a period of twenty-four hours; none was censored in Bermuda and no incoming mail to this country was censored there. While he was in Bermuda recently he had noticed the muddle into which the Pan-American officials had slipped, but he confessed that they had an almost impossible problem. There was a chance of improvement in the service with improvement in weather and it was also hoped that British Flying Boats would shortly relieve some of the strain. In view of the gravity of the complaints the question arose whether some publicity should not be given to the explanation. It was agreed that Mr. Herbert should be present that afternoon when the Minister met the American correspondents, and that a question should be asked in the House to which a reply stating the facts could be given. Mr. Herbert mentioned that the Foreign Office had suggested to principal posts abroad that they should give currency locally to the explanation for the delay, and added that he had been in correspondence with the editor of the New Statesman about complaints published in that paper.

3. B.B.C. ACCOMMODATION.

Mr. Ogilvie reported that the move to Bush House was expected to take place on the scheduled date.

4. B.B.C. Report of Parliamentary Proceedings.

[B/17/39]

Reference was made to the description by Mr. Maxton and Lord Winterton 402 -3-of the B.B.C. report of the debate on the Bill about employment of M.P's under the Crown as “a scandal”. He described the report and the Minister remarked that exception had been taken to it by the Lobby Correspondents, whom he had met the previous day. He said he felt that not enough time was given either by the B.B.C. or the Press to reports of Parliamentary proceeding, and Mr. Ogilvie agreed to take up the question of devoting postscripts to the subject, these postscripts to be given by M.P.'s.