SECRET
Copy on B/17/16.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Friday, 24th January 1941

Present :

D.D.G.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Fraser

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The Minutes of the meeting on the 22nd January were taken as read and approved. Sir Maurice Peterson referred to the discussion at the Policy Committee on 23rd January about a directive for propaganda to Germany, and it was agreed that in view of the line the discussion had taken it would not be necessary for the Executive Board to consider a draft directive.

2. BROADCASTING BY OFFICERS IN THE SERVICES

Mr. Wellington explained the origin of the paper which had been circulated in a talk which had been given by Sir Richard Maconochie to a Sub-Committee of the Duty Room Committee. It was agreed that the substance of the paper should be used as a brief for the Minister who should be asked to put the question to the War Cabinet. For this purpose the paper could be cut down considerably. It would be reasonable that the Cabinet should be asked to authorise broadcasts by serving officers of high rank, but we could not seek to overturn the definite decision against a regular series of broadcasts by such officers. We might hope, however, to have discretion to allow a fairly short run of broadcasts, possibly at three weeks intervals.

Reference was made in the course of discussion to a meeting Mr. Ryan had attended the previous day with senior serving officers who had shown considerable enthusiasm for the type of war commentary given by Major General Collins. They had been in favour of names being given for such talks, but they and the B.B.C. had not favoured giving of names for eye witness accounts, personal experiences, etc., related by officers or men who had taken part in particular action.