SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD .
Friday, 30th May 1941 .

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Gates

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 27th May were taken as read and approved.

2. PROPOSED MEETINGS BETWEEN EXECUTIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND LONDON EDITORS

After discussion on the proposals which had been considered by the Executive Planning Committee it was generally agreed that most of the difficulties which had been raised could be avoided if, as the Parliamentary Secretary suggested, an ad hoc meeting was arranged on Mr. Williams’ invitation with a few editors who would be asked for their advice as individuals on the paper then in draft form for submission to the Cabinet about propaganda principles. After this meeting with the Executive Planning Committee it would be possible to consider whether and in what ways the editors could be of further assistance in the work of the Ministry. It was not intended that they should be allowed to discuss news or campaigns being done by the Ministry to the order of other Departments.

[X/133/5]

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION EXPENDITURE

The paper circulated was discussed and Mr. Bamford explained that the chief difference since a statement of the sort was last considered was that Overseas Expenditure now considerably exceeded Home expenditure; he added that the receipts from the operations of the Ministry were very slight in relation to the expenditure shown.

In the discussion on the paper special attention was drawn to the growth in expenditure on Press publicity and on telegrams. It was agreed that in general the return to be obtained from Press advertising was very poor and that at some suitable opportunity representations might be made to the Treasury about the determination of Departments to use Press advertising.

Reference was made to the Debate to take place in the House on the following Thursday; the Parliamentary Secretary indicated that the Minister would almost certainly ask to be informed before the Debate how much of the Ministry's expenditure was attributable to work for other Departments, and also the estimated amount spent by Germany and Italy on propaganda. It was agreed that the paper should be further considered at the next meeting of the Board.