SECRET
RC/186/23.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Wednesday 19th February 1941

Instruction by Radio in the Event of Invasion

The leaflet of instructions to the public in the event of invasion must say whether or not instructions will be given over the wireless. In the first invasion leaflet it was stated that they would not be given. This statement was made as a result of long discussions between Mr. Waterfield and representatives of the services and, I believe, of the Post Office. When it was published, the B.B.C. said that they had not been consulted, although we understood from Mr. Waterfield that they had. Various Government Departments also protested against this statement saying that they were counting on the wireless in order to issue certain instructions. I understand from the D.P.R's committee and representatives of the Home Defence Executive that we are not in sight of any ruling on the subject.

Although the decision must depend largely on military considerations, the responsibility for news services lies with this ministry. It would therefore be helpful if the Ministry's attitude could be defined. Discussions have generally been complicated by technical questions of how far it will be possible to broadcast etc. Leaving these technical considerations out of account the following arguments may be considered.

Against giving instructions on the wireless:

(l) That this will give information to the enemy

(2) That of all instructions these are the most easily imitated.

(3) That if our own wireless were off the air, either through enemy action or in order not to give direction to enemy aircraft, this would leave the German radio absolutely free to give false instructions to the public.

On the other hand, it may be argued that not to use the wireless is to cut ourselves off from the most important means of communication to the public. No satisfactory distinction can be drawn between news and instructions, and therefore not to use the wireless for instructions practically means that it will not be used for news.

K.C

14.2.41.