SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tuesday. 18th March 1941

B 17/16

Draft for Cabinet Paper

Broadcasts by Serving Officers

In W.H. (40) 301 of December 6, 1940 the War Cabinet reached certain conclusions in regard to broadcasts by serving officers. I appreciate the considerations which led to them, but one of them, namely the conclusion that “it was generally undesirable that such broadcasts should be given by serving officers in high executive or controlling position” is in my judgement a serious handicap to the mobilisation of the maximum war effort among the civilian population, and I ask for authority to relax the operation of it after agreement in each case with the Service Minister concerned.

The anonymous or junior officer can be a satisfactory broadcaster on incidents of the war or particular forms of fighting activity; in many cases perhaps a more satisfactory broadcaster than an officer in high position.

The public has, however, come to expect that at intervals of about three weeks they shall hear a “War Commentary” in which a high officer of one of the fighting services shall tell them all that can safely be told to them of some important general or strategic aspect of the war about which they are exercised in their minds. It is impossible to argue that a free people is not entitled to this amount of information when they are asked to put forth their maximum efforts in a total struggle. It is impossible to satisfy them that they are getting this amount of information unless it is given by an officer who is patently speaking with firsthand knowledge of something for which he has a measure of responsibility, and in whom they have confidence because he is known to them as one in whom His Majesty's Government has reposed confidence and to whom great responsibilities have been entrusted for the safety of this realm and the victory of their cause.

Broadcasting is an important instrument of total warfare and if we deliberately prevent ourselves making this particular use of it we are sacrificing one of the most effective advantages it has in maintaining the spirit of a free and intelligent people and we are voluntarily accepting the inferior technique which is a necessity to those who govern enslaved and stupefied peoples.

I am aware of the constitutional dangers that might arise from the excess publicising of an individual officer in high position. I admit that in the past the B.B.C., and perhaps certain Government departments, including my own, have not appreciated those dangers sufficiently in their zeal to use broadcasting to its maximum effect in the war effort, but I have got adequate 360 -2-control over the B.B.C., and I am sure that with reasonable discretion on the part of the Service Ministers and myself all possible danger can be avoided if the War Cabinet will agree to the relaxation which I ask for.

I suggest the revised conclusion should be that broadcasts by serving officers in high executive or controlling positions should be allowed only by agreement between the Service Minister concerned and the Minister of Information, and in the case of any particular officer should be few in number (if a series) or given at such wide intervals of time that there is no danger of his becoming an embarrassing broadcasting personality.

(Intd.) N.G.S.

17th February, 194l .