SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
9th August 1940

Present:

Minister

D.D.G.

D.S.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Peake

P.P.S.

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Gates

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

Mr. Waddell

Sir Stephen Tallents

COUNTER-PROPAGANDA TO MEET THE CHARGE THAT WE ARE STARVING EUROPE

The paper circulated was discussed. Mr. Nicolson explained the origin of it in informal discussion with officers of M.E.W. and said that it had the approval in principle of Dr. Dalton. He explained Mr. Gibson's idea that there should be set up in America a sort of International Commission of Reconstruction, which would send food to liberated territories in Europe as they became liberated, and would, if judiciously used, serve as a lightning conductor for criticism of British policy. It was not clear whether this Commission would be an official or an unofficial organisation.

It was pointed out that it would be important to associate the American Red Cross organisation with whatever were done to deal with the charge that we are starving Europe, and Mr. Tree reported that in recent weeks the American Red Cross had been responsible for sending six unwanted food ships to this country.

After further discussion the paper was approved in principle, and Mr. Nicolson said he would again see officers of M.E.W. and prepare a further paper for agreement if possible with M.E.W. and the Foreign Office in which guidance to the Press and Broadcasting would be specially considered. It would then be possible to see Mr. Gibson and to arrange for an approach to the Allied Governments. Emphasis on the short-term propaganda would be laid in the first place on German boasts that no food shortage is to be 324 expected, and in the second place on the strong evidence which M.E.W. have of looting which has been going on unoccupied territories. The Minister remarked that the line of explanation would be that any shortage there was due ultimately to the policy of “guns rather than butter“, and it was added that it might be well to mention difficulties of transport which the Germans are said to be experiencing and to use this theme to counteract the legend of German efficiency.

Mr. Kirkpatrick mentioned that the Moors in Morocco were experiencing a shortage of sugar and tea. It was agreed that it would be very important to keep the goodwill of the Moors, and that M.E.W. should be asked to bear in mind these difficulties about sugar and tea.