405

SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
THURSDAY, MARCH 4th, 1943 .

PRESENT:

The Director General

The Parliamentary Secretary

The D.D.G.

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Cruikshank

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Macgregor

Commander McLeod

Brigadier Neville

Admiral Corpendale

Mr. Lyne

Mr. Carter

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS .

2. NUMERICAL BALANCE IN TUNISIA .

[N/278]

The Board discussed certain American military and press reactions to the reporting of the recent Tunisian operations in the British press. It had been alleged among other things that the numerical inferiority of the American troops had not been made clear. Brigadier Neville undertook to provide, for the confidential information of the Board, evidence that no such inferiority had in fact existed.

3. ACCOMMODATION (See Minutes of March 2nd)

[A/8/7/7]

The D.D.G. expounded the principles on which the proposed rearrangements (already circulated) had been planned. Mr. Francis Williams pointed out that the work of the Scrutiny Section (Censorship) would be severely handicapped if it were moved to Russell Square House, and suggested that if, as the Board agreed was the case, the regrouping of the Overseas Divisions made its removal from its present quarters essential, it should be given nearer accommodation, if necessary at the expense of the Postal Sub-Section (Censorship). Mr. Royds agreed that the transfer of Campaigns Division and the books and long-term sections of Publications Division to Russell Square House was logical, but represented the claim of Reference Division and the feature sections of Publications Division to a central location. The Chairman doubted whether this claim could be sustained for Reference Division, but it was agreed that there was a case for the feature sections of Publications if the Division could conveniently be sub-divided. Mr. Grubb warned the Board that the European Division was likely to expand and urged, if an interim move could be arranged, that the Iberian and Northern sections should be transferred physically as well as administratively to the European Division as soon as possible.

The points raised by Mr. Francis Williams and Mr. Royds were referred back for further examination.

4. “FOREVER AND A DAY” . (See Minutes of February 27th).

[F/699]

The consensus of opinion was distinctly unenthusiastic; and Mr. Grubb pointed out that the film gave a general picture of Britain inconsistent with that which our overseas propaganda has been attempting to build up. On the Home Front, Mr. Gates reassured the Board that R.K.O.’s expectations were modest and that no embarrassing sponsorship by the Ministry would be required. The Chairman accordingly directed that those overseas posts concerned should be advised of the origin, objectives and status of the film, but that a spirit of polite co-operation, rather than of sponsorship, should govern their attitude to its distribution.

N.B . No Minutes were issued yesterday, March 3rd.