KL
EXECUTIVE BOARD
For discussion on Wednesday. January 29th
A/529/20

To: - D.G. (through D.D.G.)

From: - Mr. Radcliffe.

The decision to transfer the Tours Department (which is, in effect, Mr. Greenwood and a woman assistant) to the News Division, which is, I understand, to be implemented soon, raises a preliminary point of principle.

The Tours Department's present “customers” are the British Press and, if Mr. Greenwood is to be the liaison with F.P.A., the Foreign Press. There are still the Empire correspondents and the American correspondents. Should these have tours and facilities arranged through the Empire and American Divisions independently, or should they be centralised in one Tours and Facilities Department for the Ministry?

At present, I believe that the American Division busies itself about facilities for American correspondents, while leaving tours to the Tours Department. The distinction does not seem very substantial: at least it would not so seem to the other Departments with whom the arrangements have to be made. As regards Empire correspondents, I saw a paper the other day suggesting that the Empire Division should appoint one of its members specially for this purpose.

Personally, I have an open mind, as I do not sufficiently know the advantages either way. There may be great practical convenience in letting each of these Publicity Divisions act on behalf of the correspondents in this country from the side it is concerned with. It was not, I think, the original plan of the Ministry, under which the Publicity Divisions were to operate, as it were, outwards and the News Division was intended to regulate dealings with the Press, not merely the Home Press. But it does seem to me that this is a good time to consider and decide upon the question, with the assistance, of course, of the Divisions concerned, because it affects the whole organisation and scope of the Tours Department.

C.R.

24th January, 1941 .