SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd, 1943

PRESENT:

The Director General

Parliamentary Secretary

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Cruikshank

Mr. Carter

Mr. Hamilton

Mr. Grisewood

Mr. Macgregor

General Tripp

Brigadier Neville

Admiral Carpendale

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS .

2. PROPAGANDA AND NEWS IN SICILY .

[Copy on N/448]

[B/35/5]

Brigadier Neville gave the Board a brief survey of his impressions on this subject gathered during his recent visit to Sicily: pointing out that, since Amgot was not equipped to deal with local news-distribution and propaganda, this was being dealt with for the present by officers of the Psychological Warfare Board. He further reported some criticisms of the B.B.C.'s early morning news broadcast for the troops on the ground that it did not contain sufficient American material. Mr. Kirkpatrick explained that the B.B.C.'s 15 minute period was immediately followed by another 15 minute period (“The Voice of America”) relayed direct from Washington, and that it was therefore the B.B.C.'s policy not to include topics of primarily American interest. The Chairman invited Mr. Kirkpatrick to see that this explanation was conveyed to General McClure's organisation.