SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1943

PRESENT:

The Director General

Parliamentary Secretary

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Cruikshank

Mr. Carter

Mr. Hamilton.

General Tripp

Brigadier Neville

Admiral Carpendale

Mr. Lyne

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS

2. B.B.C. TREATMENT OF MILITARY NEWS

[A/452/2.]

Brig. Neville referred to a passage in last night's B.B.C. news which conflicted, in its treatment of the operations in South Italy, with the official guidance. Mr. Macgregor explained the procedure by which the B.B.C. news editors checked such points; but after some discussion it was agreed there might be an advantage in B.B.C. representation at the Duty Room conference, where details of propaganda and news presentation were more fully discussed. The Chairman invited Mr. Macgregor to examine the possibilities of arranging this and report to him.

3. MAISKY BROADCAST

[B/17/13/1]

Mr. Macgregor reported that the B.B.C. were anxious to invite Mr. Maisky to make a farewell broadcast before his return to Russia but that the Foreign Office, while not positively opposing the idea, received it with disfavour. The Board agreed that such a broadcast would be appropriate to the circumstances and valuable for all B.B.C. services, and the Chairman undertook to take the matter up with the Foreign Office.