339 340 -2-

SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD.
Tuesday, March 4th, 1941.

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson.

Lord Davidson.

Sir Kenneth Clark.

Mr. Radcliffe.

Mr. Fraser.

Mr. Wellington.

Mr. Gates.

Mr. Bamford.

Mr. Waddell, (Secretary).

1. Minutes of the meeting 28th February were taken as read and approved.

2. PRESS SURVEYS .

The paper prepared by Lord Davidson was discussed. Mr. Bamford explained that certain of the points raised were already under consideration in the Office with Mrs. Atkins, and it was agreed that Mr. Bamford and Lord Davidson should have a preliminary discussion and that the matter might be brought again to the Board.

[I/97/6.]

3. CIVIL SERVICE WAR DISTRESS FUND .

The D.D.G referred to the Treasury Circular appealing for subscriptions to this fund and said he would like Controllers to be aware that there was no compulsion to contribute, and he would like it to be realised generally that the people most likely to benefit through the fund were the lower paid temporary Civil Servants.

[A/651.]

4. PROPAGANDA THROUGH FREEMASONS & FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ABOUT CARELESS TALK .

It was agreed that a general letter to the Masonic authorities asking them to bring to the notice of Lodges the dangers of careless talk would serve a useful purpose and that a slightly different approach through the General Secretaries of Friendly Societies might also be useful. It was agreed that the D.G. should discuss the suggestion further with Sir Kenneth Clark bearing in mind the need to avoid encouraging any demand from the organisations in question for “the facts of the matter,” which had been so frequently requested by Local Information Committees.

[GP/109/20]

5. RECORDING OF SPEECHES BY THE PRIME MINISTER. (Min. No. 4(L) of 12th February)

The D.G reported that the Minister had now spoken to Mr. Attlee, who remained firmly opposed to the suggestion.

[B/18/11]

6. ARTICLES OF SEIZURE OF THE IRISH PORTS .

The D.G. referred to a letter he had received from the Commander- in-chief of our Forces in Northern Ireland who said that articles about this subject were having an adverse effect in Eire and Northern Ireland. Mr. Radcliffe doubted whether any such articles had appeared recently, and whether if there were any, they were having the effect attributed to them.

[EP/108]