SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
THURSDAY, APRIL 29th, 1943

The Director General

The Parliamentary Secretary

The D.D.G.

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Cruikshank

Duty Officer

Mr. Grisewood

Mr. Ryan

General Tripp

Brigadier Neville

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. Lyne

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS.

2. FOREIGN NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY

[/GP/135/257.]

The Chairman read a Cabinet Resolution directing (inter alia) that this Ministry, in conjunction with the Foreign Office, should draw up a line of policy regarding foreign journals published in this country and foreign wireless emissions. The Chairman thought that this must cover unofficial, as well as official, foreign newspapers and that the first thing to do was to get out a comprehensive account of what the position is in regard to all of them. It might well turn out that this Ministry would have to inform the Ministry of Supply that it can no longer sponsor any foreign newspapers. It was agreed that an independent investigator should be appointed and the D.D.G. and Mr. Grubb will consult on the selection of a suitable person from Reference Division.

3. MINISTRY'S PAPER RATION

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The D.D.G. reported a complaint from the Ministry of Supply that this Ministry had largely exceeded its paper ration for last year. He thought that no rationing of the publications item was really possible and that as this accounted for the excess the Ministry's consumption was not unreasonable, He has prepared a draft reply to the Ministry of Supply on these lines

4. “ORIENTAL AFFAIRS”.

[FP/2139/15.]

Mr. Gates reported a proposal from the Far Eastern Section of Foreign Division (which was supported by the Foreign Office) for the revival in this country of “Oriental Affairs”, a monthly periodical formerly published in Shanghai. He asked whether this was permissible in view of the undertaking given to the Press that this Ministry would not launch any new periodicals. After discussion, the Chairman ruled that it was not permissible.