63

SECRET
EXECUTIVE B0ARD
Tuesday, 13th May, 1941

Ministry of Information War Diary for the week ending Saturday, 3rd May, 1941

Draft by the Parliamentary Secretary

Monday April 28th

Arrangements were made with Reuters to provide a special news service for the Greek Government in Crete.

In view of the fact that the Greek Government at Canea were deprived of normal sources of news the Ministry arranged for Reuter to telegraph two 500 word messages a day. The Ministry agreed to guarantee payment for this service which would amount to some £120 a month.

(Overseas Planning Committee, Minute 441)

Thursday, May 1st

A Conference took place at the Ministry between the Home Secretary and the Editors of the London newspapers.

On the morning of Thursday, May 1st, the Sub-Committee of the Civil Defence Committee of the War Cabinet had considered the situation arising from the voluntary evacuation of towns exposed to repeated bombardment. The Home Secretary had drawn special attention to the publication in the press of statements which might suggest to the enemy that the town of Plymouth had been so severely damaged and the population thrown into such a state of panic that further visits might complete the disaster. It was pointed out that under the existing censorship regulations the Ministry did not possess power to prevent such reports. The only hope was to explain the matter carefully to the newspaper editors and the Home Secretary agreed to see the Editors himself that afternoon at the Ministry.

The editors took occasion to ask that further information should be given them confidentially and the old proposal for an “operations 64 - 2 -room” or some other means of securing regular contact between the Home Secretary and the press was revived. This proposal was postponed for further discussion between the Chief Censor and the Director of Public Relations at the Home Office.

(Executive Board, Minutes 2.5.41)

Friday, May 2nd

1. The monthly conference of Regional Intelligence Officers was held at the Ministry.

The Minutes of the Meeting give a full account of the matters discussed.

(HP 288/15)

2. Mr. Leathers interviewed the Press.

Mr. F.J. Leathers, the new Ministry of Transport and Shipping, came to the Ministry on the morning of May 2nd and made a short statement to the assembled Press regarding the new functions of the combined Ministries and the need of co-ordinating our internal and external transport systems.

(Ministry of Shipping & Transport, Hand-out No.33, 2.5.41)

3. Mr. Menzies, the Prime Minister of Australia, addressed the Press.

Mr. Menzies, before his departure for the United States held a press conference at the Ministry; the chair was taken by the Minister. After a short address the proceedings degenerated into a discussion as to how and when the press might publish the fact that Mr. Menzies had left for Australia via the United States.

(verbatim Report of Conference, 2.5.41)

4. Printing abroad.

Lord Davidson reported on the success of the arrangements for printing “War in Pictures” in India. The Government of India had originally agreed to distribute some six thousand copies and in order to secure an even wider distribution the 65 - 3 -Commercial Relations Division of the Ministry called together an Advisory Committee to leading British firms in India. As a result of their co-operation the first number of “War in Pictures” was printed at Bombay by the Times of India in February. The first issue ran to 550,000 copies, the second to 640,000 copies, and an increase for further issues to one million has been sanctioned. The periodical is published in nine Indian languages, including basic English. The fact that the publication is sponsored by the Ministry of Information or the Government of India is not indicated.

(GF 39/28)

5. It was decided to publish a pamphlet upon the Greek Campaign to be written by Mr. David Garnett, with the approval of the three Service Departments.

The point of this pamphlet is to provide the public with information upon the Greek Campaign, the news of which was restricted at the time. It was felt that the phenomenal success of the “Battle of Britain” proved that there was a real demand for such explanatory accounts even when retrospective.

(LE 97/59)