SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Monday, 13th January, 1945

PRESENT :

D.G.

Parliamentary Secretary

D.D.G.

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Williams

Mr. Royds

Mr. Archibald

Mr. Cruikshank

General Tripp

Brigadier McGregor

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Grisewood

Mr. Hodge

Escape Stories in Northern Ireland

[CN/175.]

Reference was made to the escape of German prisoners into Eire from a Prisoner-of-War camp in Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach of Eire had undertaken to return escaped prisoners to the British authorities provided that no publicity was given. The War Office and Dominions Office had agreed to this proviso without consulting this Ministry. Censorship had imposed a temporary stop and protests had been received from Northern Irish editors. It was decided that representatives of the War Office and Dominions Office should be invited to meet the Will Committee in order to put their case to editors for treating Northern-Ireland escape stories differently from escape stories in the rest of the United Kingdom.