SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
THURSDAY, MARCH I8th, 1943.

PRESENT:

The Director General

The Parliamentary Secretary

The D.D.G.

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Grisewood

Mr. Macgregor

General Tripp

Colonel Treadwell

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. Lyne

Mr. Carter

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS .

2. STRENGTH OF THE NAVY AND MERCANTILE MARINE.

[N/387]

The Chairman suggested that effective use could be made, in bringing home the magnitude of British sea-going commitments, of a total figure of men serving in the Royal Navy and the Mercantile Marine. General Tripp undertook to take the views of the Admiralty on this point.

3. MINISTRY SPEAKERS AND THE BEVERIDGE REPORT .

[HP/24. Part E.]

Mr. Gates reported that demands had been made (culminating in a Parliamentary Question from Mr. Mander) for the Ministry's speakers to address meetings on the subject of the Beveridge Report. He explained that it had not hitherto been the practice to arrange meetings for discussion of the Report, though speakers were free to answer questions utilising the Ministry's own summary of the Report itself and the Government's Statements made during the debate. Home Division were not in favour of acceding to this demand; but Mr. Gates himself felt that it should be met, especially in view of the widespread public ignorance on the subject. The Board endorsed Mr. Gates's view, but recognised two dangers which were pointed out by the Parliamentary Secretary: first, that however factual might be their brief, speakers were liable to be led by questions into controversial discussion; and secondly, that by expounding, as they would necessarily do, the Government's policy on the implementation of the Report, speakers wore liable to incur from the critics of that policy the accusation that the Ministry was being used as an instrument of Government or even of Party Propaganda on a domestic issue. The Chairman undertook to discuss these aspects of the matter with the Minister.

4. MINISTRY SPEAKERS AND ATLANTIC CHARTER .

[HP/174/223.]

Mr. Gates reported that representations had been made, by a group headed by Mr. Arnold Foster, that Ministry speakers should take as a theme for public meetings the Atlantic Charter and the official amplifications and interpretations of it. He explained that there was no evidence of public demand for this and that the proposal reflected the proselytising zeal of its promoters, The Board felt that the official material available would be too nebulous to satisfy the expectations which would inevitably be aroused in the audience at a meeting dedicated to this subject; and endorsed Mr. Gates's view that the suggestion could not be accepted.

N.B. No Minutes were issued yesterday, March 17th.