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SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD .
Tuesday, 18th February, 1941.

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

Parliamentary Secretary

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Eraser

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. Subject to Minute (2) being recast as follows the minutes of the meeting on 12th February were taken as read and approved.

SUGGESTION THAT AUTHORS SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE SERVICES.

It was understood that the suggestion now made by Mr. Priestley had been considered and turned down in the past. Sir Kenneth Clark suggested that the analogy with Artists attached to the Services did not hold, and it was agreed that Mr. Priestley should be told we did not favour his suggestion. “

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2. Report by Colonel Vickers .

Lord Davidson referred to the interest which had been taken by the Ministry in Colonel Vickers’ mission to South America, and said a report had been made on the mission's work to the D.M.I. on l6th December. The report had not been formally referred to the Ministry, which was concerned with a very large part of the description and recommendations it contained. It was agreed that Sir Maurice Peterson and Mr. Grubb should examine it and take up with the Joint Planning Committee any point which in their view ought to be raised.

[CR/56]

3. D. G.’S VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM .

The D.G. described his impressions after visiting the R.I.O. and meeting prominent members of local communities and Local Information Committees in Coventry and Birmingham. He had found

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that the Regional staffs were in general able to deal with their problems, being assisted through having a fair amount of journalistic experience; that they were on good terms with both local authorities and representatives of other government departments, and that the main doubts they had conveyed to him were about policy in regard to big meetings and direction from Headquarters. The D.G. said he had felt it worthwhile reporting these impressions to the Board and the Parliamentary Secretary confirmed that his experience had been similar.

Mr. Fraser referred to the desirability of showing to the Press the “Bible” which had been agreed for circulation in the Regions at the recent R.I.O's conference. It had been agreed not to show the document to the chief Party organisers before issuing it and it was thought to be undesirable to invite comment from the Press. It was therefore agreed Mr. Fraser should arrange with Mr. Macadam for issue of the document (which had now been approved by the Minister) to be held up for a day or two whilst a small number of copies were distributed by Mr. Fraser in confidence to prominent members of the Press who would not be asked to offer comment.

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