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SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Wednesday 20th August, 1941

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Sir Victor Schuster

Mr. Tree

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Admiral Carpendale

General Tripp

Colonel Heywood

Mr. Ridsdale

Mr. Seddon

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 19th August were taken as read and approved.

2. The Service Advisers and Mr. Ridsdale and Mr. Seddon reported on the day's news and then left the meeting.

3. BOOKLET ON BROADCASTS

The D.D.G. said he would like to see monthly booklets of the best broadcasts and the best pictures. He felt that the booklet on broadcasts should have a wider circulation than the LISTENER and should in this country at least be sold, though not necessarily at rates which would bring in a profit. It was agreed that he should speak to Mr. Robert Fraser in the first place about the broadcasts proposal, bearing in mind that advice from the editor of the LISTENER might be useful.

During discussion it was noted that shortage of paper and scarcity of printing labour raised problems for the Ministry which would have to be considered closely; the Paper Controller did not consider on a qualitative basis applications made to him for paper, and there were large numbers of publications using paper which could be put to much better use. It was agreed that in three weeks’ time the Board should review the Ministry's responsibilities in this matter and consider whether a licensing system through the Board of Trade was called for.

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4. ARTICLE ABOUT THE MINISTRY

Mr. Francis Williams reported that an Icelandic paper now wanted an article about the Ministry, and it was agreed that preparation of a brief which could be used in this and similar cases would be a matter for the Press Relations Officer as soon as he was appointed.

5. DUTY ROOM

It was agreed that on occasions when Mr. Francis Williams and Lord Hood could not attend, Mr. Gates should take the chair at Duty Room meetings.

6. CLIPPER PASSAGES

Mr. Bamford explained that in view of the shortage of accommodation and the cost of Clipper passages in American dollars (£300 as compared with £100 by ship) the policy of the Ministry had generally been to send lecturers and similar passengers by sea whenever possible. Some of the lecturers, however, for example Mr. W.J. Brown, considered their time to be too valuable to travel by sea, or felt insulted at not being provided with a Clipper passage. The staff of the Ministry handling these questions were accordingly in some difficulty about how far they should insist on travel by sea.

It was agreed that before laying down a rule on the question, it would be desirable to consider the requirements of the Ministry in relation to the accommodation available, and Mr. Bamford promised to obtain as much information as possible about this. The D.G. said he would speak to the Minister about the case of Mr. Brown, which was urgent.