SECRET.
EXECUTIVE BOARDS.
Friday, 9th May, 1941.

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Gates

Minister

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on the 7th May were taken as read and approved.

2. Stories about Escaped Prisoners . It was understood that Mr. Radcliffe was seeing the Security Authorities about the possibility of making use of such stories.

3. Shipping Losses . The Minister reported that it had been decided to publish monthly figures of shipping losses, taking together losses in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean.

4. Relations with Reuters . The D.D.G. outlined information which had reached him about a transaction between the Press Association, the present owners of Reuters, and the Newspapers Proprietors Association whereby the N.P.A. would acquire a controlling interest in Reuters. It was understood that the P.A. had accepted terms which were put to them by Lord Rothermere and Lord Kemsley on behalf of the N.P.A. and that they had given an assurance to the N.P.A. that there was no association between Reuters and H.M.G.

[RC/32]

After discussion it was agreed that in view of the importance of the question to the Ministry the D.G. should see Sir Horace Wilson as soon as possible; it was understood that the negotiations were likely to be completed by Tuesday or Wednesday the following week.

5. Release of News . The D.G. referred to an opportunity which had presented itself of interesting the Prime Minister in the Ministry's difficulties with the Service Departments.

It was agreed that Mr. Radcliffe and the D.G. should prepare a list of some recent examples. It was felt that the land mine controversy might be mentioned and also the attitude of the Ministry of Aircraft Production to films showing supplies arriving from America.

6. Regional Bulletins. (See minutes of meeting on 7.3.41 “London’s Awake”). The D.D.G. reported that Sir Arthur Willert wished to start a bulletin in this Region. It was agreed that no sufficient reason had been shown for departing from the general policy of not issuing such bulletins.

[to go on HP/609/5]

7. B.B.C. Staff. Sir Maurice Peterson referred to difficulties in providing up-to-date news in the early morning foreign bulletins owing to the shortage of suitable staff. Mr. Bamford explained that the difficulty was not so much shortage of staff as the unwillingness of the B.B.C. to make the new appointments at a higher salary unless they could revise the salary scales of existing members of the staff who would feel aggrieved if they did not receive increases. Mr. Bamford said he would raise the matter again with the B.B.C. and indicate that in the Ministry's view appointments might be made at the higher salary called for without prejudice to the question of making these higher rates the standard rates. He would report to the D.G.

[B/12]