SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Friday, 23rd May 1941

Present :

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Gates

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 21st May were taken as read and approved. It was noted that a discussion had taken place the previous day at the Policy Committee when it had been decided not to proceed with the project for a film magazine.

Mr. Bamford mentioned in connection with Item 5 (Economy) that Mr. Welch had prepared a summary which indicated the present rate of expenditure of the Ministry through various activities; it was agreed that this list should be circulated for consideration by the Board.

2. Proposed Meetings between Executive Planning Committee and London Editors

It was understood that the D.G. wished to be present for discussion on this question and it was agreed that the item should be on the agenda for the meeting on Tuesday, 27th May when Mr. Francis Williams would also attend.

2. War Diary

(a) The notes by the Parliamentary Secretary for the week ending May 10th were approved.

[A/380]

(b) The list of items proposed for inclusion in the week ending 17th May was considered. It was agreed (1) that it was proper to make a running record of the story about Hess rather than [illegible] until the whole story was known; (2) that the entries for 13th and 14th May should be 90 - 2 -omitted, together with the reference to the Press Conference by the Belgian Foreign Minister; (3) that the Parliamentary Secretary should include reference to the difficulties in which the Ministry became involved over release of various items of news; (4) that Mr. Gates should take note of any Duty Room discussions which seemed to call for inclusion in the War Diary and should pass them to the Secretary so that they could be circulated and considered at the same time as the general list.

4. Anti-French Feeling in this Country

Sir Kenneth Clark and the Parliamentary Secretary referred to discussion at the Executive Planning Committee the previous day when it had been felt that something should be done to improve the general feeling of the public towards the people of France and the Free French. It was agreed that little could be done at the present time beyond keeping in mind the need for good relations and it was felt that the best line would be as Mr. Radcliffe suggested to concentrate on abusing Vichy for its general policy and for letting down the French people.

[FP/10/23]