400

SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20th, 1943 .

PRESENT:

The Director General

The Parliamentary secretary

Mr. Gates

Mr. Cruikshank

Mr. Grisewood

Mr. Macgregor

Commander McLeod

Colonel Treadwell

Mr. Chapman

Mr. Lyne

Mr. Sinclair

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS .

2. BARKWAY'S BROADCAST. (See Minutes of February 18th )

[B/294]

Mr. Thurtle again raised the question of the tone and phrasing of the B.B.C. commentary by Barkway. Mr. Macgregor reported that he had read the script, which, in his view, was unexceptionable, and that he had listened to the record along with Mr. Gilbert, the B.B.C. American Liaison Officer; Gilbert had expressed the opinion that no American would object to the broadcast. The Chairman pointed out that five members of the Board had independently been adversely impressed by the broadcast, end, after discussion, Mr. Macgregor undertook that the B.B.C. would bear in mind the need for ultra-caution in the matter of such broadcasts.

3. WOMAN'S DAY .

[HP/1015]

Mr. Gates reported that Lord Trent had written to the Minister suggesting a Women's Day. The Board agreed that, in view of the part played by women in various services in previous organised celebrations, there was no strong case for the suggestion.

4. MINISTER'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE

[HP/9/3

Mr. Gates reported that the Secretary of the Minister's Advisory Committee had been instructed to call the Committee together for its next meeting on March 10th. The Chairman undertook to discuss with the Minister the question of the agenda.

5. “BRITISH ALLY” AND ‘‘PICTURE POST”.

[FP/8000]

Mr. Grubb reported that the Russian employees of “Britansk Soyusnik” had produced an album, with a laudatory preface, containing photographs showing the production of the newspaper. This they had sent to the “Soviet War News” and the latter had asked the Ministry if there was any objection to matter from the album being reproduced in a periodical such as “Picture Post’. The Board agreed that there was no objection.

6. “MARCHANT'S YOUNG MEN”.

[FP/8069]

The Chairman drew attention to the story in the “Daily Express” of the activities of Marchant's Young Men on Guadaleanar, and suggested that it was worthy of further exploitation overseas. Controllers interested undertook to take the necessary action.

N. B . No Minutes were issued yesterday, February 19th.