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EMPIRE DIVISION
PROPAGANDA PLANS AND BUDGET APRIL - SEPTEMBER 1940 .

I. GENERAL .

(A) A number of propaganda activities cannot be apportioned, as regards cost, between the different territories that they serve.

(1) Broadcast Transcriptions Scheme . Estimated gross cost April 1 - June 30, £5,875: July 1 - Sept. 30, £5,875.

(2) Air Mail Postage Scheme (Ministry pays half the postage on editorial matter despatched to Empire newspapers.) Estimated cost: April 1 - June 30, £1500. July - Sept. 30 £1500.

(3) Pamphlets distributed through Societies, Commercial Firms etc. Estimated cost: April-June, £15,727: July-Sept. £15,727. But whether the estimate will be reached depends on whether enough paper will be available.

(4) Visit of Empire Newspaper Editors. This project for which Treasury sanction has been provisionally obtained has been tentatively raised with the Empire Press Union. If it matures, the net cost to the Ministry should not exceed £3,000, all of which is expected to fall within the period ending 30th September.

(5) Propaganda about the Empire . Following is the contemplated expenditure:

The most expensive item under this head will be films: at least two full length feature films on Dominion subjects are contemplated (e.g. one for Canada, on the N.W. Mounted Police: one for S. Africa, on the life of General Botha ), and it is intended to send film-producing units to India and to parts of Africa. The plans, however, have not yet reached the stage at which accurate costing is possible. Expenditure under this head will be net from the Films Subhead of the Ministry's vote, amounting to £500,000 in 1940 and need not be estimated separately.

A substantial cut has been made, on account of paper shortage, in the figure originally proposed for Posters (£100,000). The rate of expenditure now proposed (£30,000 in Sept. quarter) must be subject to review in the light of general policy at the time.

An Empire Press Review, to be published twice weekly, is also under consideration, at a cost which it is not possible to estimate at present. The largest item would be cabling charges, which night be put at £650 p.a., calculated at the cheapest press rate. But the scheme must be considered in the light of what happens to the Foreign Press Review and the paper shortage generally: it does not seen likely that it will mature.

(B) Organisations Overseas . The Ministry maintains no paid officers in overseas Empire Countries. Local agency services are provided by and at the expense of the governments of the countries themselves, or by the offices of the United Kingdom High Commissioners in the Dominions. It is desired to include £1,000 under this head for possible visits by representatives of the Empire Division to oversee Empire countries.

II. DOMINIONS

(1) News . It is possible that plans may mature for payment by the Ministry of cable tolls on supplementary news messages, recording important Allied pronouncements, to South Africa. Estimated cost: April - June, nil: July - September, £1,100.

(2) Newspapers and Periodicals . No direct subsidies are contemplated. Plans were under discussion involving payment of a sum roughly £1,000 to stimulate by advertising and other methods an increased circulation in four Dominions of special editions of the leading British Illustrated weeklies; but in view of the paper shortage this project is now abandoned.

(3) Feature Articles . The number of feature articles expected to be commissioned in the Empire Division for the Dominions is 156 per quarter, the estimated cost being: April - June £624; July - September £624.

(4) Pamphlets and Reprints April - June, £3,469; July - Sept., £3,969.

(5) Posters . April - June, £260; July - Sept. £630.

(6) Photographs Stereos and Maps . April - June, £5,290: July - Sept. £5,345.

(7) Films . No films have been specially commissioned for distribution in the Dominions. Expenditure will be incurred on Dominion distribution both of 35 mm films and of l6mm films, say £2,000 in each quarter; but see note under I.A (5) as regards provision of funds.

(8) Direct Broadcasting . In addition to the overseas service in English, the B.B.C. broadcasts in Afrikaans and monitors in the same language.

(9) Lectures, Travel, etc . Lectures have not hitherto formed part of British propaganda in the Dominions for reasons of principle. It is desirable, however, to make some provision under this head for future contingencies, say £250 in April - June, and £750 in July - Sept. It is hoped to arrange this or a reciprocity basis, the Dominions undertaking to send lecturers in return to the U.K.

III. COLONIAL EMPIRE :

(1) News . Assistance to Colonial news services, not yet in operation, may be estimated to cost £150 in April - June, £250 in July - September.

(2) Newspapers, Periodicals and Books . No large expenditure is contemplated under this head.

(3) Feature Articles . Allowing for a cut owing to paper shortage, the number of feature articles expected to be commissioned in the Empire Division for the Colonies is 70 in the current quarter and 90 in the following quarter, the estimated cost being: April - June, £280; July - September, £360.

(4) Pamphlets and Reprints . April - June, £990; July - Sept. £990.

(5) Posters . April - June, £95; July - Sept. £280.

(6) Photographs, Stereos and Maps . April - June, £1,780: July - Sept., £1,945.

(7) Films . (a) Special films are being made for native colonial audiences, and Mr. Sellers, in charge of this activity, is to visit Africa in order to take films and to help organise the work of travelling cinema vans. Estimated cost is: April - June, £350; July - September £650. See I. A (5)

(b) A scheme of distribution of Cinemagazine and other suitable films through official channels has been launched. Local distribution will not involve cost to this Ministry, but cost of prints and of carriage must be provided.

(8) Direct Broadcasting . There is no vernacular or other special direct broadcasting for the Colonial Empire.

(9) Lectures, Travel, etc . No expenditure is at present contemplated under this head.

IV. INDIA AND BURMA .

(1) News . Payment for supplementing Reuters service to India is made by the India Office. An allowance of £50 a quarter should be made for payment by the Ministry for supplementary telegrams sent at our special request.

(2) Newspapers and Periodicals. (a) Agreements have been entered into whereby the Ministry pays the salary (£1,000 per annum) of the editor of “Great Britain and the East”, and purchases 1000 copies of each issue at the subscription rate of £1.10s. 0 per annum.

The Near Eastern section is also concerned, and one half of the expenditure may be attributed to the Empire Division. April - June, £625; July - September, £625.

(b) An Urdu newspaper for Indian troops has been planned. Estimated cost for a weekly circulation of 2000: April - June, £750; July - September £750.

(3) Feature Articles . Allowing for an increase in demand by one third, the number of feature articles expected to be commissioned in the Empire Division for India and Burma is 200 in the current quarter and 230 in the following quarter, the estimated cost being: April - June, £800; July - September, £920.

(4) Pamphlets and Reprints . April - June, £614; July -Sept. £614.

(5) Posters . April-June, £485: July - Sept. £1,570.

(6) Photographs, Stereos, and Maps . April-June, £3,995: July - Sept., £5,515.

(7) Films . No films have been specially commissioned for showing in India or Burma. Commentaries or dubbing in Indian vernaculars of propaganda films is not now contemplated; provision must also be made for cost of extra prints and other distributing costs of propaganda films used in India, say £1,000 a quarter.

(8) Direct Broadcasting . The B.B.C. will shortly be broadcasting daily in Hindustani, and monitoring in the same language.

(9) Lectures. Travel, etc. Arrangements already made for work among Indian students and others in this country will cost in April - June £110, and in July - September, £300.