SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
TUESDAY, APRIL 13th, 1943.

PRESENT:

The Director General

The Parliamentary Secretary

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Grisewood

Mr. Ryan

General Tripp

Brigadier Neville

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. Lyne

Mr. Carter

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS.

2. AIR TRANSPORT TO THE MIDDIE EAST.

[RC/50/16]

Mr. Grubb reviewed the unsatisfactory facilities available to the Ministry for air transport to the Middle East, both for regular freight despatches and for personnel as occasion demanded. In view of the lack of consideration accorded to the Ministry's requirements, he asked whether a firmer line could not be adopted. The Board agreed that it was desirable both to improve the method of presenting the Ministry's case and to put that case more forcefully and the Chairman undertook to take the matter up with the Air Ministry.

3. POLISH NEWSPAPERS. (See Minutes March 13th)

[6P/135/101]

Mr. Francis Williams reverted to this problem, which had come to a head more quickly than had been expected since the appointment of the new Polish Minister of Information. In his view the only practicable solution was to confide the total stock of paper from the Ministry ration, which was at present made available to individual publications, to the Polish Ministry of Information, delegating to them the responsibility for allocating it. Objections to this course had been raised by the European Division who were apprehensive of the use to which such powers of regulating opinion might be put; and Mr. Grubb added that a preference for retaining and exercising, rather than delegating, control had been expressed by P.W.E. and other interested parties. The Chairman ruled that the Ministry could not be responsible for protecting minority opinions amongst allies whose government was temporarily domiciled in this country, and that the Polish Ministry of Information must exercise control as best it could. It was agreed that the danger of this precedent being cited by other allies was not considerable, but Mr. Grubb was invited to discuss the decision with Mr. Scott before any action was taken.

4. ANNIVERSARIES . (See Minutes of April 3rd)

[AM/386]

The Board took note of the Cabinet Conclusions on the celebration of United Nations Day (June 14) and Home Guard Day (May 16).

N.B . No Minutes were issued yesterday, April 12th.