SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, 1943.

PRESENT:

The Director General

Parliamentary Secretary

Mr. Francis Williams

Mr. Gates

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Royds

Mr. Cruikshank

Mr. Carter

Mr. Grisewood

Mr. Macgregor

General Tripp

Colonel Treadwell

Admiral Carpendale

1. REPORTS FROM SERVICE ADVISERS .

2. MONITORING OF ALGIERS RADIO .

[B/321/50]

Colonel Treadwell reported that the War Office had received a telegram from Allied Force Headquarters, Algiers, requesting that Algiers Radio should be monitored on a strict 24-hour basis in case of unscheduled broadcasts of urgent communiqués, etc. He added that the B.B.C. Monitoring Service reported that this was not technically possible. He enquired whether anything should, and if so could, be done to meet this request. It was agreed that there was no such need as far as the dissemination of the communiqués as news was concerned; but the Chairman undertook to enquire of P.W.E. whether they had any special requirements.

3. OVERSEAS NEWS AGENCY .

[CN/53/16]

Mr. Grubb reported that further complaints had been received by the Foreign Office, from Latin America in general and Mexico in particular, of the dissemination by O.N.A. of critical articles by Harold Laski. He recalled that these complaints had often been made before, and that in a previous instance when the Ministry had declined to take action, the Foreign Office had done so with unsatisfactory results. The Foreign Office had now returned to the charge with a request for censorship action, and it was for consideration whether this could be, and if so should be, applied. It was agreed that the matter complained of in fact fell almost entirely outside the range of censorship, and it was felt that any attempts to dissuade Mr. Laski would be not only inconsistent with governmental professions of respect for the principle of free comment, but would also do much damage when, as was inevitable, it became known that they had been made. The Chairman accordingly directed that the Foreign Office be advised that the Ministry declined to take any action in this matter.

4. RADIO SET FOR M. MAISKY .

[RC/]

Mr. Grubb reported that the Allied Supplies Executive had been asked by Madame Maisky to procure a radio set for the Vice-Commissar to take back with him to Moscow; that they had secured an option on a suitable instrument at the price of £60; and that they now suggested that the Ministry should pay for it. While it was agreed that this was perhaps a border-line case, the Board saw no reason why this purchase should not be treated as a normal commercial transaction; and the Chairman directed that the proposal be answered accordingly.

N.B . No Minutes were issued yesterday, September 1st, 1943.