POLICY COMMITTEE
9th Meeting. 8th March, 1940

Present: The Minister

Sir Kenneth Lee

Sir Walter Monckton

Mr. Waterfield

Mr. Tree

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

1. The Minister made a statement about the reconstitution of the Department.

2. ANGLO-FRENCH UNITY. P.C. PAPER NO.13

It was agreed that this Paper should be circulated to the Co-ordinating Committee, and Sir Walter Monckton would discuss the Paper with his Editorial Committee.

3. “THE WEEK“

After discussion the meeting decided that it was not in favour of censoring opinion.

4. COMMERCIAL RELATIONS

It was decided that the Department of Overseas Trade should not yet be approached to lend Mr. Hill as head of the new Branch.

5. INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES

It was agreed that Mrs. Adams should be permitted to use the services of Mass-Observation before polling day in the next election if she required them.

6. RELATIONS BETWEEN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THE B.B.C .

A note by Mr. Wellington was read in which two instances were pointed out of interference by other Departments in the arrangements for broadcasting. He had suggested that steps should be taken to make generally known that the channel of communication with the B.B.C. was the Ministry of Information. It was pointed out that there already was an understanding that the Lord Privy Seal should superintend Ministerial broadcasts, but apart from this there were no commitments. The Minister agreed to take this matter up.