SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, 1943

PRESENT:

The Director General

Parliamentary Secretary

The D.D.G.

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Routh

Mr. Royds

Mr. Cruikshank

Mr. Hamilton

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Macgregor

General Tripp

Brigadier Neville

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. Lyne

Mr. Huxley

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS .

2. S.E.A.C. PUBLICITY.

[X/290.]

The Chairman informed the Board of a letter from Air Marshal Joubert, in which it was suggested that a “South East Asia Command Cell” he set up in the Ministry to deal with press information about that Command. The Chairman added that it was not clear from the letter whether the Air Marshal was proposing simply to appoint a Liaison Officer between the Ministry and the S.E.A.C. or whether in talking of an officer who could be ‘the focal point of all Ministry of Information activities that concerned the S.E.A.C.”, he was suggesting an organisation of much wider scope. It was agreed by the Board that a useful purpose could be served by the appointment of a Liaison Officer, particularly on news matters between the Ministry and the Command and on questions affecting the work of the Empire and Far Eastern Divisions; but that nothing would be accomplished by setting up an organisation with wider powers.