SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOART
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, 1943.

PRESENT:

The Deputy Director General

The Parliamentary Secretary

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Cruikshank

Mr. Carter

Mr. Grisewood

Mr. Macgregor

Commander Easton

Brigadier Neville

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. Lyne

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS

2. SHIPPING SITUATION

[X/39/1]

The Board considered what advice should be offered to the Minister in respect of the Cabinet Conclusion resulting from representations, by the First Lord that the serious view of the shipping situation now being adopted in the Press was having a bad effect on public opinion. It was understood that a meeting of the Departments interested was to be called to implement the Conclusion. Mr. Gates pointed out that the subject was intimately connected with recent and prospective ration reductions, and Mr. Royds recalled the emphasis on the Battle of the Atlantic, which was a feature of the current campaigns of the Ministry of Food and the National Savings Committee. It was also pointed out that a vigorous campaign on similar lines had been undertaken by the U.S. authorities, and that a sudden discrepancy from this in our own propaganda would be distinctly awkward.

It was agreed that no change was called for in the Ministry's policy until the question had been discussed at the impending meeting: in anticipation of which Mr. Cruikshank was invited to secure from Mr. Harold Butler the substance of the American propaganda directive on the subject.

3. RED ARMY DAY

[CN/]

Mr. Royds reported that the ceremony at the Albert Hall was already fully booked up and that suggestions had been made that its locality ought to be concealed on security grounds. Mr. Francis Williams explained that this would be quite contrary to the policy agreed between the Departments concerned and the Press, and it was agreed that while the Albert Hall ceremony itself (as distinct from others of the celebrations) needed no advertising, no attempt should be made to suppress references to it.