310

EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tuesday, 11th February, 1941.

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates.

Mr. Hodson

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 7th February were taken as read and approved. The D.G. said that in regard to the instruction of invasion the Minister intended

It was also mentioned that the R.I.O.s had accepted at their meeting the views expressed about the Ministry's responsibilities in connection with Emergency News Service.

2. USE OF MATERIAL INTERCEPTED BY CENSORSHIP.

[A/662]

The draft circular prepared by Colonel Scorgie was discussed, with particular reference to 3(b). It was felt that there were great risks in allowing material intercepted by the censorship to be seen by any people other than those officially concerned with its subject matter who could be trusted to use the information with discretion. It was agreed that the D.D.G. should show the draft to Mr. Herbert and if there were no objections on his part it should be issued forthwith. It was made clear that where intercepts were addressed to Divisions or sections within the Ministry the Division or section concerned should be able to decide which Officer ought to be responsible for it.

3. PUBLICITY IN IRELAND

[EP/108]

The Memorandum prepared by Mr. Hodson was discussed and it was understood that part of the reason for it was disquiet on the part of Military Authorities at the position in Ireland. Mr. Hodson had discussed it with representatives of the 311 - 2 -Service Departments and the Dominions Office, and it had been agreed in general, though the Admiralty and the Dominions Office had felt we should bear in mind as the ultimate objective getting Ireland to participate in the war.

The D.D.G. referred to the importance of victory propaganda in relation to the native Irish and reference was made to the visit of Mr. Wendell Willkie to Mr. de Valera. It was agreed that whilst it could not be said that the ban on propaganda in Eire had been lifted, it had, with the agreement of the Dominions Office been relaxed; if commercial propaganda could be introduced without being identified as officially inspired there could be no objection to it.

The main recommendations emerging from the paper were in regard to the B.B.C's Home Service, which was already carrying a fair amount of material of special interest to both Northern Ireland and Eire, and the suggestion about American periodicals and correspondence by Americans; the latter suggestion was to be discussed with the American Division. It was agreed that the D.G. should bring the paper to the notice of the Minister.

4. AMUSEMENTS FOR THE STAFF

[F/160/2]

The D.D.G. referred to the suggestion that films should be shown to the Ministry's staff once a week, on Wednesday, and a dance should be held on Saturdays for which a charge of sixpence would be made; he invited the views of the Board on the suggestion. It was agreed that the suggestion should be put into effect for an experimental period under the strict control of the Establishments Division; in order to obtain some funds for the initial period there would be no objection to a whip round amongst senior officers.

5. READING OF SONGS AND SCRIPTS FOR PLAYS

Sir Kenneth Clark referred to the demands made on his time through the numbers of scripts and suggestions submitted to him. It was agreed that officers of the Ministry should be instructed not to refer such matters to Sir Kenneth Clark and to reply themselves to correspondence submitted; the reply to be on the lines that support for plays and songs or review of proposals for plays and songs did not come within the scope of the Ministry's work.