310

SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
26th July 1940

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

P.S.

Lord Perth

Sir Maurice Peterson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Macadam

P.P.S.

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

Mr. Ryan

1. ENTERTAINMENTS

Sir Kenneth Clark stated that if the war turned into a static condition this winter the question of entertainment for the troops and also for the civilian population in order to maintain their morale would assume great importance. He did not mean so much the immediate entertainment of the film or music hall order, but something to occupy people's minds. The Board of Education were also in touch with the C.E.M.A., and the question arose whether we ought not to take some active part in stimulating activities of this sort. The Director General pointed out that in the case of the B.B.C. we were careful not to interfere with the type of entertainment, although it was true that directives issued by the Ministry were also carried into the entertainment part of the programme. The Deputy Secretary said that we had hitherto taken the line that we were definitely not a Ministry of Entertainment as such, i.e. it did not fall to us to consider such projects as a National Opera solely on the grounds of its entertainment and cultural value. Our responsibility was to maintain morale and all entertainment projects in which we took part had to have this as a necessary condition. Sir Kenneth Clark thought that this raised the question of “total” propaganda. If we renounced interest in entertainments as such we might be deprived of a valuable weapon for getting across our propaganda.

The Director General thought that the provision of some kind of training facilities for the troops was of great importance but that the needs of the civilian population generally speaking were not so pressing. While we ought properly to take an interest in the subject for the reasons mentioned above, it was agreed that the Ministry should not allow itself to drift into the position of being a Ministry of entertainment until the whole question of policy had been carefully reviewed. It was agreed that Sir Walter Monckton should enquire from the Service Departments what their plans were for the winter and that Sir Kenneth Clark should get into touch with the Board of Education to the same end.

2. AIR RAID WARNINGS

It was reported that the Civil Defence Committee had asked the Ministry of Information to take steps to explain to the public at large the steps that were now being taken about air raid warnings. In the discussion it was pointed out that the steps were actually of an experimental kind and were liable to vary from place to place in accordance with local requirements. 311 It might therefore be very difficult to explain to the public. Moreover, the Air Ministry were generally not at all inclined to give much away. It was decided that we should try to find a form of words in conjunction with Colonel Crutchley and in the process the difficulties referred to might be made clearer.

3. TATLER & SKETCH

Sir Walter Monckton drew attention to the “Tatler” and “Sketch” which took the line used by German propaganda to illustrate the less worthy occupations of the plutocracy. It was generally felt that in so far as the home population was concerned the “Tatler” and “Sketch” did not do much harm. Various sections of the community did not object to the kind of material it put out, and those who maintained the active opposition were probably in a very small minority. It would be very difficult to take any action against the papers and probably not desirable to do so. It was decided to do nothing.

4. DR. REVES’ PLAN

Mr. Kirkpatrick said that he and the Director General saw the Minister with regard to Dr. Reves’ plan. The Minister had agreed that Reuters should go ahead with the arrangements now in train for a news agency, which would be maintained entirely separate from the other proposals about a feature articles service and commercial advertising. If after some experience it became clear that Reuters were not going to be successful, then it might be suggested that they hand over the news service to the new agency. It had been made clear that the figures mentioned would need careful examination. The Minister had agreed that in the event of the scheme going through, the Treasury would be asked to nominate someone who would have control over the expenditure of funds.

Dr. Reves was to be seen again.

5. ACCIDENTAL INACCURACY IN B.B.C. NEWS BULLETINS

Mr. Ryan referred to an incident which occurred in the news bulletin last night in which an agency message relating to the raid on a convoy off the South East coast which stated that no ship appeared to have been hit. People on shore had seen the action and had seen three ships hit. The possible explanation was that the bombing had taken place in waves and that nothing had occurred in the first wave which had been described, and the information about the third wave when the accident occurred might have been cut out by the censor. Whatever the explanation, the impression conveyed was wrong and the people who were in a position to know were indignant. A question arose as to what action should be taken. After discussion it was agreed that the B.B.C. should explore the possibilities of issuing a correction in the form of a mild apology this evening.