POLICY COMMITTEE
21st May, 1940.

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

Lord Perth

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Tree

Mr. Wellington

Sir Stephen Tallents

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

1. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING. ENEMY BROADCASTING .

The Deputy Secretary reported that he was in close touch with the Service Departments on the question. At present it seemed likely that we should have to recommend that no official notices should be sent out at any time other than the normal times. The public would then be informed that any notices that were put out at other times would be false.

[See: BBC official [illegible] also: WP(C)(404,136) [illegible] BBC relations with M.O.I.]

2. LONDON REGIONAL ORGANISATION .

Mr. Macadam produced a minute and draft letter intended to be sent by the Minister to the Mayors of all London Boroughs etc. (97 in all). The Director General suggested that it might be wiser to begin with the Metropolitan boroughs, since the organisation required to keep 97 committees in being would be very considerable. It was suggested that A.R.P. organisation should be used, but the suggestion was rejected on the ground that it would be unwise to interfere with the normal functions of A.R.P. in an emergency. Mr. Macadam was to have a further meeting in the morning with the representatives of the Parties in London and it was agreed that if nothing further altered the position the Minister should be invited to send out the letter as drafted.

[See P.C. Papers]

3. HOME INTELLIGENCE.

Mr. Macadam reported that certain machinery was now being used at the request of the Ministry of Food to enquire into the reactions of people in connection with rationing, etc. It was proposed to continue to use the organisation for assessing the general morale. It was agreed that the proposal should be submitted to the D.G. for the information of the Minister.

4. BRIEF FOR LORD BUCKMASTER'S MOTION .

The brief was read. After discussion it was agreed that we should attempt to get Lord Buckmaster to withdraw his motion, since, in the circumstances which had arisen since it was put down, a debate would be undesirable. If this failed, Mr. Harcourt Johnston, or another, might be asked to invite him to abstain from reference to the U.S.A. It was suggested that Lord Snell should also be approached with the same object.

5. BROADCASTING BY HIS MAJESTY ON EMPIRE DAY .

The Director General undertook to find out whether the King would broadcast on the forthcoming Empire Day.