225

POLICY COMMITTEE
6th June 1940

Present:

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

Lord Perth

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Peake

Mr. Wellington

P.P.S.

Mr. Gates

Mr Tree

Mr. Lints Smith

Mr. Radcliffe

Sir Campbell Stuart

Mr. Ogilive

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

1. COMPULSORY CENSORSHIP

The papers circulated were examined. Sir Walter Monckton said that either we might bring in compulsory censorship forthwith or take powers and use them when required. In any event there must be a lag after the decision was taken since some hundreds of recruits would have to be obtained and trained. This would take some weeks. He referred to Mr. Lints Smith's objections that compulsory censorship would damage public morale and Mr. Lints Smith himself emphasised the importance of obtaining the co-operation of Mr. Will's Committee and of the proprietors of the newspapers in any measure which we had to take. Mr. Radcliffe referred also to the difficulty of securing uniformity amongst many, many censors spread over the country.

After discussion the Minister decided that a paper should be prepared for the Cabinet, explaining what measure would be required to bring in compulsory censorship and how long it would take. We should mention that we had been strongly urged by the French to take these powers, and we should put the objections that had been raised by Mr. Barrington Ward and others. We should ask for a decision whether compulsory censorship should be brought in now or whether we should take powers to enable us to bring it in at the Minister’s discretion, and our recommendation should be that we should take powers now and begin the preparations forthwith in order to be ready to act.

It should be explained that one of the most important considerations was the exercise of control in the event of disruption of communications, and the paper should deal adequately with the state of affairs which might be anticipated. The paper should also consider possible sanction whether by prosecution or by suspending publication for a period. Sir Walter Monckton undertook to produce this paper by the end of the week.

2. HOME MORALE

The Director General referred to a suggestion which had been made to the Minister by Sir Arnold Wilson that posters should be available for exhibition in R.A.R. hangers, Duty Room etc., of a more war-like character. Mr. Nicolson explained that the Emergency Committee had this point in mind, and were proposing to give wide circulation to the Prime Minister's speech of the day before yesterday, particularly the peroration which he thought was the best possible material. Mr. Nicolson reported that the Emergency Committee were now getting into 226 shape material provided by the War Office about measures to be taken in the event of invasion. The G.P.O. were distribute the pamphlet, and it was hoped that we might get voluntary organisations, e.g. Poppy Day, to co-operate, supplemented by local appeals. It was generally agreed that the risk of gaps could be accepted.

3. ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENCE FOR TRANSMITTING STATIONS.

There was no further progress.

4. TREATMENT OF FRENCH RESIDENTS IN THIS COUNTRY AS ALIENS

Mr. Macadam reported that a strong complaint from the President of the French Ex-Servicemen's Association in this country had been received. French residents of long standing in the coastal towns had been given notice to evacuate and many other difficulties had been reported. This was particularly difficult to deal with in view of the reciprocity given to English residents in France (already frequently referred to) After discussion the Minister agreed to speak to the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary that morning.

5. CENSORSHIP MEASURE IN THE B.B.C.

Mr. Ogilvie called attention to the fact that double censorship check which operated in all B.B.C. programmes was not operative for the Home News because it was not found feasible to get the script for the second censor ready in time. It was decided to accept whatever risk there might be. Reference was made to action in the event of interruptions during important statements and addresses. During Cardinal Minsley's recent broadcast there had been an interruption and he had been cut off, but was put on again later in the morning. The Minister enquired whether in such a case the broadcast could not be continued after the interruption had ceased, but it was explained that in general there was a risk that when interruptions were organised, as soon as one interruption had ceased another might begin and the effect would be accumulative.

4. READYING OF BROADCASTS FROM BREMEN.

Mr. Ogilvie said that certain small relay companies were relaying Haw-Haw's broadcasts. This had also been reported by the War Office. The question arose how this could be controlled. It was pointed out that there had been a decision that relay companies were not to be allowed to broadcast any speech from foreign sources, and it was agreed that enquiry should be made at once into the facts. The question, however, was not primarily whether relay companies were forbidden to do this, but whether the steps taken to force them to obey were efficient.