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SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Wednesday, 6th August, 1941 .

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Lord Hood

Mr. Tree

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Colonel Heywood

General Tripp

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. McIver

Mr. Ridsdale

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 5th August were taken as read and approved. Admiral Carpendale reported that nothing further could be said at present about damage to the Scharnhorst or about publicity for Flying Fortress. The D.G. said that the Minister was dealing with the question of publicity for combined operations.

2. REPORTS BY SERVICE ADVISERS

Mr. McIver reported a broadcast from Bremen which contained a palpable lie about bombing on the South Coast; Admiral Carpendale undertook to enquire whether it could be publicised.

Reference was made to the G.H.Q. Liaison Unit and Colonel Heywood promised to see whether further information about it could be issued to the Press.

The Service Advisers and Mr. Ridsdale and Mr. McIver then left the meeting.

3. REORGANISATION

The D.G. reported that he was seeing the Minister at 4.30 that day with the D.D.G. and Mr. Bamford to consider further questions arising.

4. P.R.O'S MEETING

Sir Kenneth Clark reported that in his view the weekly meeting now taking place under the chairmanship of Mr. Parker had become too big and too frequent, The D.G. agreed to speak to Mr. Parker before making recommendations to the Minister about splitting the meeting into sub-committees.

5. POLITICAL WARFARE DIVISION

The D.G. reported that discussions with Mr. Dalton and Mr. Eden were continuing. It was agreed that when the general questions of direction were settled by Ministers Mr. Law should be given an opportunity of explaining his views.

6. POLICY COMMITTEE

It was agreed that the Policy Committee for the following day should meet in Duty Room at 9.45 a.m. and that the Executive Board should meet with the Service Advisers at 10.30. The Secretary undertook to suggest to the Minister's Private Secretary that the Minister might care to mention at the Policy Committee the result of discussion about P.R.Os, a Political Warfare Division and the Prime Minister's journey.