The Director General stated that Mr. Scott, Regional Information Officer for Manchester, had visited Liverpool and found that the position about the French troops there was unsatisfactory. The troops were uncertain about their pay and they had received rather depressing accounts from a French officer who had been sent there to speak to them. It appeared that the War Office were consciously refraining from stimulating enthusiasm so that the unsatisfactory element of the troops would fall away. After discussion it was felt that the Cabinet attitude was not sufficiently clear. If it was supposed that the troops would ultimately all go back to France, we should not waste money in trying to subsidise them. If not, we should act. The Director General undertook to have a word with the Minister before to-day's Cabinet in order that the position might be cleared up.
Lord Perth referred to the danger that emissaries from the Bordeaux Government were now attempting to get across into the United States. Certain steps were mentioned, and the Secretary was instructed to put them in hand.
2.
SPAIN
Mr. Kirkpatrick reported that the Ambassador had sent a number of recommendations for action, but these had not yet been received. It was suggested that we should ask for a telegraphic summary. Mr. Kirkpatrick thought that the two important features of the Spanish situation were firstly that Spain might think that we were going to fail, and secondly that the Germans might go into Spain in force. He thought at the moment we should try to convince them that there will be a long and tedious war. This was a point which probably General Franco would appreciate. It was mentioned that Mr. Bryan Wallace was going or had gone out as Attaché, charged with responsibilities for film developments. Certain other steps were being taken, but at present nothing further could be decided. The subject was deferred until some indication could be received of the Ambassador's recommendations.
3.
EFFECT OF SITUATION ON OUR EXPORT POSITION
The Director General mentioned that Lord Davidson had expressed the hope that we should not convey a picture of “Britain as a fortress”, as it was vital to our interests that we should maintain our export trade. Such a picture might be a hindrance. It was mentioned that this point had been made by Mr. Butler and Mr. Nicolson very recently, and it was noted as guidance for policy. The phrase suggested by Lord Davidson “The last bastion of Europe” was thought to be somewhat unsuitable.
4.
POSITION OF HAVAS-REUTER
No further guidance could be issued at the moment. It was reported that Reuters had authorised the Havas agency in New York to tell their agents in South America they could take the Rugby Service (in a telegram sent on Saturday). No recommendation had yet been obtained, and it was decided to send telegrams to the Press Attachés in South America to ask them if they could find out if anything was happening.
5.
PROJECT TO START A POLISH NEWSPAPER IN THIS COUNTRY
Mr. Kirkpatrick stated that Dr. Litaner, who was now acting as Attaché to the Polish Government here, wanted to produce a daily newspaper of one sheet (four sides) with a circulation of about 10,000 for the benefit of the Poles in this country. The idea was to publish it six days a week, excluding Mondays, and the script would be submitted. They would in fact fall in with any suggestions we had to make. It was noted that the Ministry had no control over news print, and it appeared to be necessary to confer with the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association. The Director General said that he would speak to Major Astor to-morrow. The project was generally agreed to be worth considering.
6.
INTERNMENT OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
Sir Walter Monckton reported that he had had applications on behalf of several foreign journalists who had been or were about to be interned. He thought that the Home Office should be asked to consider any representations we had to make in respect of journalists for whom we could vouch. It was noted that the Director General had received a letter from Sir Alexander Maxwell asking us to put up forthwith a list of aliens in key-positions on whose behalf we wished to make such representations. A notice had been circulated to Directors last night, and the members of the Committee were asked to take the question up with their Directors. It was agreed that the notice should be circulated to the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary and others who had not been covered in the previous distribution.
7. PAMPHLET ON INVASION
Sir Kenneth Clark reported that he had consulted representatives of the Home Defence and the Ministry of Home Security on the question raised at the meeting yesterday whether we should have another published. He had been unable to obtain any satisfaction from the Ministry of Home Security, who said that all possible points had been covered either in their last pamphlet or in their pamphlets on A.R.P., and they were unwilling to say anything further. They took the attitude that the people should be told to stay put and not to resist. The only new point they were prepared to publish was that when the moment came they would forbid the use of cars. We had to try and do the best we could with very insufficient material.
8.
N.B.B.C.
It was noted that the N .B .B .C. had been putting out more material with the object of confusing people. Their broadcasting purported to explain what form an invasion would take and to urge people to take steps calculated to create confusion. Should we refute it or ignore it? Mr. Macadam suggested that we should overhaul our anti-rumour procedure to-day and it was also agreed that we should consider putting something in the new pamphlet to call attention of the public to the danger of paying attention to this type of propaganda. Certain discussion took place on the nature of the N .B .B .C. broadcasts and the steps now being taken about them (not recorded here)
9.
MORALE OF THE TROOPS
Sir Kenneth Clark asked how far we ought to regard ourselves responsible for the morale of troops. He considered that this was largely joined up with the morale of civilians who came into contact with the troops. If arrangements for the troops were unsatisfactory in any respect (e.g. at
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- 3 -railway stations) the discontent of the troops was soon communicated to the civilians. It was noted that the activities of E.N.S.A., which had previously been generally regarded as responsible for keeping the troops in good heart, had been cut down by half, and it appeared that we ought to take a hand in trying to prevent any developments which might arise from boredom and discontent among the troops. It was agreed that Sir Kenneth Clark should discuss the question further with General Beith on the basis that since troops and civilians were now in such very close contact we had a joint interest in providing a certain amount of recreation and distraction for troops and civilians alike.
DECISIONS
MEMBER CONCERNED
1. That the Minister should he invited to ascertain the Cabinet's attitude to French troops in this country.
Director General
2. That certain steps should be taken to prevent emissaries from the Bordeaux Government from attempting to reach the U.S.A.
Secretary
3. That telegrams should be sent to Press Attachés in South America asking them to ascertain particulars of what was happening to the Reuter-Havas news service.
Secretary
4. That we should confer with Major Astor about the question of newsprint for a proposed Polish newspaper to be published in this country
Director General
5. That the notice about the internment of aliens should be circulated to the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary and others who had not previously been covered in the distribution.
Secretary
6. That we should review our anti-rumour procedure in connection with broadcasts from the N.B.B.C.
Mr. Macadam
7. That the morale of the troops should be discussed with General Beith.
