111 112

SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tuesday, 10th June 1941

Present:

D. G.

D. D. G.

P. S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Gates

Minister

Mr. Herbert

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 6th June were taken as read and approved.

2. THEME FOR PROPAGANDA

The paper circulated was discussed and Sir Kenneth Clark outlined the circumstances in which it had been written. It was generally felt that the word “democracy” was not entirely satisfactory for use in countries abroad other than America and the Dominions; even in this country it was felt that “freedom” or “liberty” might be preferable. The Minister, however, said he could see no useful alternative and it was agreed that the paper might be handed to the Production Divisions and to the R.I.O.s for use as a directive, subject to a warning that the word “democracy” should be used as little as possible. It was felt that the principles enunciated in the paper were admirable but that the working out of these principles in a campaign would have to be watched very carefully.

[H/22]

3. STATE OF OPINION IN THE COUNTRY

The Minister referred to Cabinet discussion on the question whether the Press was understating the degree of criticism of the Government throughout the country. After discussion in which the Parliamentary Secretary referred to a meeting he had attended at Cambridge, Mr. Radcliffe and the D.D.G. reported the views of R.I.O.s, and Mr. Herbert reported impressions based on examination of Censorship material. It was generally agreed that there was at present a good deal of criticism of the Government and that on the whole the Press were understating this criticism.

4. P.Q. ABOUT EXCISIONS FROM PRISONERS OF WAR MAIL

Mr. Herbert explained that the excisions referred to in the Question for answer the following day had been made at the request of the War Office, that the request had not been transmitted through the Headquarters of the Postal and Telegraph Censorship and that the cuts made had been only where it could be shown that criticisms of the Red Cross in the mail were unfounded. He recommended that the practice should stop and said he would discuss the matter with Major General Hunter and get in touch with the Minister if difficulties were found in taking this course.

[A/319/20]

5. P.Q. ABOUT HOME INTELLIGENCE ENQUIRY

It was agreed that the reply to Sir Percy Hurd's question should be to the effect that the Ministry did not regard the question put out by Home Intelligence about Sunday opening of cinemas as one in which the Ministry need have interested itself and that the officer who asked the question was no longer on the Ministry staff; but that at the same time it could not be accepted that discussion in the House prevented the Ministry from making enquiries into the degree of public confidence in Parliamentary decisions.

6. CAMPAIGN ON RATIONING

The Parliamentary Secretary reported conversation with Captain Oliver Lyttleton about greater use of press advertising for the campaign, and it was agreed that he or the Minister should see Captain Lyttleton and explain the Ministry's views.

7. PAPER FOR “HORIZON “

The Parliamentary Secretary referred to representations from the Editor of HORIZON about the need for a small allocation of paper if publication was to continue. It was felt that as the Ministry (if it supported any application with the Ministry of Supply) would be urging an exception to the firm rule which had been laid down about papers commencing publication after the beginning of the war and would be involving itself in great difficulties with papers which might try to take the place of the DAILY WORKER, the Ministry's support should not go further than making helpful suggestions to the management of HORIZON.

[6P/B5/99]