32 33 -2- 34

POLICY COMMITTEE
Eighteenth meeting. 2nd May, 1940.

Present:

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

Lord Perth

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Peake.

Mr. Tree

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

67. Minutes of last Meeting.

(57) Noted that the decision was that the photographic Department should become a separate Division, and not (as recorded) that the Photographic Department should go back to the Public Relations Group.

(60) Posters Note circulated by Sir Kenneth Clark (P.C. No. 30) deferred.

(62) For “extraction” read “collection”, and the last sentence should read: “Mr, Peake might or might not ultimately continue as Controller”.

(64) It was reported that the French, who had asked for an allocation of at least 12 journalists, no longer pressed their claim as they did not wish to go to Narvik.

68. Night Duty List and War Room.

Organisation discussed. Note to follow (P.C.32)

69. Application for Information by Sir Ronald Storrs .

Agreed that D.S. should communicate with Sir Ronald Storrs.

70. “Noteworthy”

Further criticism of “Noteworthy” reported. Pointed out that R.I.Os were in favour. Decided that they should be asked once more, through Mr. Macadam.

71. “German People”

It was agreed that this topic and the topic of war aims generally, should be avoided.

72. D.G's visit to Monsieur Frossard (P.C. No. 29)

Sir Walter Monckton considered that there would be violent opposition from part of the Press to compulsory censorship. If it were desirable to enforce it, it was a difficult moment to do so now. Moreover, it would take a considerable time for the machinery to function. It was agreed to appoint a censor for the B.B.C. and to prepare a plan for compulsory censorship.

[agreed to images from arrangements for [illegible]]

The question of war correspondents going to Norway had been dealt with above.

The difficulty of phonographs, and in particular of the film of the Narvik battle, was mentioned, and deferred for further discussion between Mr. Kirkpatrick and Sir Kenneth Clark.

It was explained that Mr. Kirkpatrick took a note of the proceedings in the War Room, and proposed that something based on this should be drawn up to give to Mr. Bret.

73. Waste Paper .

Mr. Peake reported that he proposed to issue handouts twice or three times a day containing a shortened version of the material sent in from other offices.

Sir Kenneth Clark observed that if the campaign for salvage of paper was to be successful, it would be necessary for compulsory powers to be taken to oblige local authorities and others to co-operate. He undertook to prepare a note for the [illegible] Supply.

74. “The Daily Worker” and “Action” .

The proceedings of the Home Policy Committee were reported at which the decision had been taken to prohibit the export of the “Daily Worker”. The Home Policy Committee had added “Action” to the embargo. It was agreed that Mr. Peake should have recent copies of “Action” examined and report whether it seemed to be desirable to approach the Home Policy Committee in order to get this extension reversed. It was decided to circulate a note by Mrs. Adams on the remaining publications of subversive tendencies. (Attached, P.C. No.31).

75. “Radio Times”.

Sir Kenneth Clark reported that the “Radio Times” had been asked to take advertisements of pacifist publications. It was decided that they should be asked to keep them out.

AT THE NINETEENTH MEETING, on MAY 6TH, 1940 THE POLICY COMMITTEE WAS DECLARED EXTINCT