SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD.
Friday, 31st January, 1941.

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Fraser

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Gates

Mr. Ogilvie

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on the 29th January were taken as read and approved.

2. RECORDING THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECHES IN PARLIAMENT FOR SUBSEQUENT BROADCASTING

The note prepared by Mr. Macgregor was discussed. It was explained that apparatus had actually been installed in the House because on several previous occasions permission to record had been withheld only after considerable preparation had already been made. The Parliamentary Secretary thought it likely that the House would object to arrangements for recording owing to the risk of invidious distinctions having to be drawn. Mr. Ogilvie admitted the validity of the objections but submitted that for propaganda purposes, especially to America, rare use of recordings would be a great advantage: all the more since the Prime Minister's speeches would not be directed towards America. He also referred to the historic value records of great speeches would acquire.

[18/11]

[B/

Reference was made to the success of broadcasting (even live broadcasting) from deliberative assemblies in America, New Zealand and elsewhere, and it was agreed that the D.G. should approach the Minister with the suggestion that recordings be taken of the Prime Minister's important speeches, it being understood that only Mr, Churchill would be recorded and that the present time was most propitious for it. If the Minister approved the suggestion he should approach the Chief Whip, who might take the views of the other Party Whips and then discussions might be necessary with 298 Mr. Attlee, Mr. Greenwood and perhaps Mr. Bevin before approaching the Prime Minister himself. It was appreciated that a Motion of the House would probably be required, and the possibility might be mentioned to the Whips of having a Motion on each occasion when a recording was desired.

3. MONITORING DIGEST

The D.G. referred to the fact that at present Allied Newspapers were paying ₤500 a year to the Ministry for use of the Digest but the Foreign Press Association were being allowed to use it free of charge. It seemed likely that Allied Newspapers would wish to drop the arrangement on its present basis, and it was agreed that the Ministry should make the Digests more widely known and charge a small subscription e.g. three guineas a year, for the use of it.

It was explained that the arrangements for use of the material by the F.P.A. were not very satisfactory, and it was agreed that improvements into the conditions should be made, that we should ‘gut’ the Digest where desirable, and consider adding Empax telegrams and the Country House News Digest. In regard to the last it would be necessary to consider whether the private reports sometimes included made it undesirable for release to the Press. Before any of these steps were taken Mr. Fraser should let Allied Newspapers know that we would be willing to bring the arrangement with them to an end as soon as this was legally possible.

[CN/69/103 and RE/51/2]