16

POLICY COMMITTEE
Tenth Meeting. 15th March 1940.

Present: Minister

Sir Edward Grigg

Sir Walter Monckton

Sir Kenneth Lee

Mr. Waterfield

Mr. Tree

Mr. Wiltshire (secretary)

1. APPROVAL OF PAMPHLETS

A number of pamphlets in draft form were shown to the Committee. It was decided that when a pamphlet had been approved by the Deputy Director-General responsible, it should be submitted to the members of the Policy Committee who would have an opportunity to make any comments they desired within 24 hours, otherwise the pamphlet could proceed - unless it raised particular points of doubt.

The Minister asked to see some examples of our latest issues. He thought that the Cabinet should also be supplied with these.

It was also suggested that before the Minister addressed the 1922 Committee on April 24th, some examples should be exhibited in the House of Commons. The Parliamentary Secretary undertook to see into this.

Mr. Brebner was also to talk with Mr. Wiltshire about making these productions more widely known in the press.

2. COMMERCIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

The Minister requested that this should be proceeded with as quickly as possible.

3. P.C. PAPER NO. 14. USE OF RECORDS OF HAW-HAW

This Paper was discussed. It was generally agreed that Professor Hilton's proposals should be tried.

4. “THE CATHOLIC HERALD”

The attack in “The Catholic Herald” of March 8th and the recantation in the issue of March 15th were noted.

5. SIR EDWARD GRIGG'S REPORT ON THE PARIS ORGANISATION

The Minister asked that Mr. Childs should be got over at once. He agreed to send a message to M. Daladier through M. Corbin to urge him to hasten the appointment of a Minister of Information.

6. MR. SOMERSET MAUGHAM

D.G. stated that Mr. Somerset Maugham, who was now writing articles for the Ministry, appeared to be ready to undertake work for the Ministry in Paris. It was mentioned 17 that he might act in some advisory capacity. It was agreed to leave this to Mr. Childs.

7. EMPLOYMENT OF J. WALTER THOMPSON IN LATIN AMERICA

The Deputy Secretary mentioned this topic The Minister suggested that Sir Edward Peacock should be approached as to clearance for J. Walter Thompson. Lord Luke's name was also mentioned in this connection.

8. LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER FROM MRS. RODD

Sir Walter Monckton mentioned this and it was agreed that it should be sent to Electra House and Foreign Division.

9. EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS OF LEFT WING TENDENCIES

The Minister said that while he considered that the greater proportion of persons likely to be of use to the Ministry in a creative capacity would be of left wing tendency, he thought it was necessary to pay some attention to public opinion. At present he received numbers of complaints of left wing bias, but none of the contrary kind. In these circumstances he thought it expedient for the present to recruit accordingly, other things being equal.

10. ISSUE OF MATERIAL FOR PRESS

Sir Walter Monckton showed some examples of useless and wasteful material issued by various Government Department and it was agreed that he should go ahead to rationalise the position.

11. EVACUATION

The Deputy Secretary undertook to write a note on the present position about the evacuation of the Ministry, including the Press and Censorship Bureau, in the event of a move.

12. RELATIONS WITH “DAILY EXPRESS” AND “DAILY MIRROR”

It was agreed that some attempt should be made from time to time to open up relations with these two journals.