1.
CLOSER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE B.B.C. AND THE MINISTER: AND THE ISSUE OF OFFICIAL INFORMATION
.
The Minister read a report by the Deputy Secretary of a meeting held with all Government departments concerned the day before, at which various measures had been agreed necessary, to put into force the principle that the Ministry of Information should henceforward be the only channel for the issue of official news from Government departments to the B.B.C. and the Press. The Minister observed that the small delays which might be involved were of less importance than accuracy. The B.B.C. welcomed the arrangements and considered that the delays would generally be counter-balanced by the quicker handling which would be possible within the B.B.C. organisation. They urged that all Departments should be clearly informed that the[illegible] will not take messages from any Department but the Ministry of Information as soon as the scheme is in force. It was agreed that the scheme should come into force as from the 7.0 a.m. bulletin on Saturday, May the l8th. The Minister agreed to mention the arrangements to the Civil Defence Committee. Unless the scheme was rejected here, a notice would be sent by the D.S. to every Department, quoting the ministerial approval.
[See also “
B.B.C. [illegible] announcement
“ for copy of report etc]
[See also W.P.(C)(40)139 - BBC relations with M.O.I.]
2.
RADIO PERSONALITIES
The Director-General referred to the two types of possible radio personalities; firstly, a Minister who should be well known to the public, and secondly, a voice who would put out material prepared by an organisation behind it. Mr. Ogilvie said that the B.B.C. agreed in principle with both ideas. The Minister observed that he was ready to broadcast whenever required, at short notice. As to the second proposal, the B.B.C. did not adhere to the principle that the speaker should necessarily be the writer and had various other persons in mind. The Director-General suggested that the panel was at present very small. The Minister enquired whether, for example, anyone who had just escaped from the Hague had been invited, and the names of Constant Lambert and Lord Chichester were mentioned. The B.B.C. noted them.
3.
JAMMING POLICY
It was reported that all British service to Italy were systematically jammed, and when a short-wave transmitter was diverted from another service to Italy it was also jammed within two minutes. It was thou[illegible] that a number of small military sets were used for local [illegible] interference. The Turkish service had also been jammed. The Minister asked the B.B.C. would consider it worthwhile instituting research to try to overcome jamming. The B.B.C. undertook to enquire. Mr. Wellington observed that jamming of medium-wave required high power, say 50 kilowatts. Short-wave transmissions could be jammed by low power machines with a local effect. It was decided that the matter should be discussed again at the next convenient meeting.
4.
ACTION TO ASSIST BROADCASTING IN BELGIUM
It was noted that the Belgian broadcasting system had been reported yesterday to be out of action, and that we had been asked to assist by making time available. It was pointed out that they had in fact used the French transmitter at Lille and one of the private transmitters in Belgium was still operating. The situation was thus not as bad as at first appeared.
5.
AIR-RAID PRECAUTIONS
The B.B.C. reported that there were no anti-aircraft guns near Daventry. The ministry undertook to bring pressure to bear on the War Office at once if required. The B.B.C. have armed guards at all transmitters and have asked the War Office for an armed guard at Broadcasting House.
[See file M.46]. “[illegible]]
“PICTURE POST”
Sir Kenneth Clark reported that it had been agreed in principal, subject to Treasury concurrence, that Mr. Hulton should be asked to go ahead with a 4-page French news addition to the ordinary issue, and that they should include 9 pages on the new Government in the next issue. Mr. Hulton and Mr. Lorant had subsequently demurred to the second proposal and said that they could not make it a success with less than 32 pages. it was thought that if Mr. Hulton were offered 16, he might add 8 of his own. The deputy Secretary had taken the view that the governing factor was the paper shortage, and was doubtful whether the proposal should take high priority. Subject to this, the office generally had agreed that a build-up of the new Government might serve a useful purpose. The Minister considered that we should do everything in our power and that the Prime Minister would support the [illegible] it. It was agreed to propose to Mr. Hulton 16 pages in the ordinary number, and to invite him to contribute 8 pages of his own. This was to be taken up with Mr. Hulton and with the Treasury.
[See also N. P(G) 136. BBC action event of the air-raid BBC relations with M.S.C. file.]
