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POLICY COMMITTEE
Minutes of 3rd Meeting. 26th January 1940

Minister

1. REGIONAL ORGANISATION

The Minister said that he would be able to ensure the co-operation of the political parties. Co-operation being assumed, it was decided that:-

1. R.I.Os should set up Central Committees where they were required.

2. R.I.Os, after consultation with Regional Defence Commissioners, should approach Headquarters for permission to set up such Local Committees as they could justify.

2. RELATIONS WITH POLITICAL PARTIES

Mr. Attlee and Sir A. Sinclair had agreed to attend the R.I.O’s conference on February 3rd. It was decided to invite the Lord Privy Seal in place of the Prime Minister.

The Minister requested that the exact procedure for February 3rd should be drawn up for his approval - when the visitors should come, whether singly or together, and what was to pass between themselves and the Ministry.

It was decided that a fresh draft letter to Mr. Attlee should be prepared, explaining the regional organisation, inviting the co-operation of the Labour Party on the Local Committees, and stating what was the object of this co-operation. It should be suggested that the three party agents should come to the Ministry beforehand.

3. REPORT TO CABINET

It was decided that reports should henceforward be two-monthly and that the next should deal with the period to the end of February: Divisions to be notified that material was to be submitted to the D.G. by the 28th February; the report to be drafted by the Administration Division, and to be related to the work of each Division.

4. CAMPAIGNS

(1) Evacuation

(2) Petrol, coal, and the transport of coal

(3) The “Spiral”

(4) War Loan

In connection with (4), the Minister requested that Mr. Steward should be consulted.

5. PRESS RELATIONS

Sir Walter Monckton undertook to write a note of the position with the Service Ministries.

6. P.C.No. 2. PUBLICITY IN THE U.S.A .

The suggestions in paragraph 8 were agreed subject to the following comments.

(e) and (a) require co-ordinating

(f) It was noted that the Admiralty combined general reticence on Naval matters with sudden requests to stress certain aspects of naval warfare.

The Minister was prepared to see American Press correspondents if advisable, and requested the Committee to consider the matter further.

7. P.C.No.1. PUBLICITY ABOUT THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Consideration was deferred until the next meeting.

8. RELAY COMPANIES’ REQUEST TO RETRANSMIT FRENCH AND AMERICAN SERVICES

Referred to Mr. Wellington for report.

9. MISCELLANEOUS

It was agreed that

(i) D.G. should inform Heads of Divisions when their papers were considered by the Committee in their absence.

(ii) Further consideration should be given to the work of Chatham House, and the Minister should be advised whether to see Mr. Toynbee and subsequently Mr. Leeper.

(iii) The Minister would explain the proceedings of the Policy Committee meetings to the Co-ordinating Committee next Monday.