SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tuesday, 27th May, 1941

Present :

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 23rd May were taken as read and approved.

2. Proposed meeting between Executive Planning Committee and London Editors

In view of the absence of the D.G., discussion on this item was postponed.

3. War Diary

(a) Subject to the amendment of the beginning of the last paragraph of the note about Hess to read “In the absence of guidance the only line that could be followed by the Ministry ....” the Parliamentary Secretary's notes of the week-ending May 17th were approved.

(b) The list of items proposed for inclusion for the week-ending May 24th was considered and approved subject to the deletion of the first two items proposed for Tuesday 20th May, the reference to rising expenditure and the Press Conference of General Sikorsky, the D.D.G. said it would be possible to report in due course the full story of the change in control of Reuters which had been referred to first at the meeting on May 19th; it was also considered likely that reference could later be made to difficulties over film censorship.

4. Office Circular about Manpower

Lord Davidson referred to the circular about manpower dated 13th April and it was agreed in discussion that the only course would be to discuss individual cases with the Kennet Committee; the difficulties in which some Directors were placed were appreciated.