POLICY COMMITTEE: TUESDAY May 21st, 194 0. ([illegible])

To: D.G.

From: Mr. Macadam.

Organisation of the London Region .

Following a series of conferences over the weekend with representatives of the London organisation of the Labour Party and of the Conservative Party, at which Sir Wyndham Deedes was present, a document was prepared embodying, in the form of a draft letter to the Mayors of the Metropolitan Boroughs and Chairmen of the Council, a scheme for the formation of Ministry of Information Committees in each of these local government areas. A copy of the draft letter is attached.

This draft has the support of the representatives of the two political parties, and I took the opportunity yesterday of explaining the scheme to Sir George Gater, and today have submitted the scheme in draft to the following:

(a) The Ministry of Home Security .

It appears that this Department is likely to fall in with the scheme, provided the Regional Commissioner for London approves of it. See below.

(b) Mr. Eric Salmon, Clerk to the London County Council .

Mr. Salmon commended the plan, and promised to show it to the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Latham, and let me know if he had any comments.

(c) Mr. Euan Wallace and Sir Ernest Gowers, Regional Commissioners for the London Defence Area .

Both Commissioners gave their support to the scheme, if it should meet with the approval of Mr. Duff Cooper, Mr. Euan Wallace conditionally undertook to discuss the matter with Sir Thomas Gardiner, and if necessary, with the Minister of Home Security.

The essential elements in the scheme are:

(1) A Regional Information Officer, with a small staff consisting of one or possibly two deputies, Press Officer Assistant, two or possibly three Committee Officers, should be established in an office in the centre of London forthwith.

(2) The organisation of the Ministry throughout London should rest on the Town Hall in each area.

(3) The political machine of the Labour and Conservative Parties, with all its ramifications, extending in some instances almost to the individual street, or at any rate small groups of streets in some of the Boroughs, should be utilised to the full in maintaining contact with the masses of the people through London.

Although the Treasury have approved the establishment of a London Regional Organisation and have agreed to the appointment of an R.I.O., London and a small staff, this scheme as a whole has not yet been considered from the financial point of view. But I propose to submit that in view of the size of the problem which faces the Ministry in London, a special provision should be made which would enable at any rate the out-of-pocket expenses of the local committees to be provided.

In view of the critical situation, it is submitted that an early decision should be made as to whether this scheme may proceed.

I.S.M.

20th May, 1940.