SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
THURSDAY, JULY 15th, 1943

PRESENT:

The Director General

Parliamentary Secretary

The D.D.G.

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Carter

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Macgregor

General Tripp

Brigadier Neville

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. Lyne

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS .

2. EXPORT OF PERIODICALS .

[EP/]

Mr. Grubb reported that the Empire Division was disturbed at the possible repercussions in the Empire generally and in South Africa in particular of an article in the July 17th issue of “Picture Post” entitled “London's Coloured Clubs”. He recognised as impracticable the suggestion that the export of this number should be stopped, since the overseas copies would already have been despatched; and Mr. Francis Williams pointed out that, in general, attempts at ad hoc prohibition of export were so complicated and ineffectual that they had been abandoned in all except the most urgent cases. After some discussion, the Chairman suggested that the responsibility for preventing the import into any Colony or Dominion of printed matter likely to have undesirable repercussions should be placed on the local authorities, the Ministry's function being restricted to warning the Colonial and Dominions Offices of individual cases in which such likelihood existed. The Board approved this principle; and Mr. Grubb was invited to take action accordingly.

N.B . No Minutes have been issued since July 8th, 1943.