SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Wednesday, 22nd January 1941.

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Lord Davidson

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Fraser

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Bamford

Sir Stephen Tallents

Sir Noel Ashbridge

Mr. J.B. Clarke

Mr. Waddell (Secretary

1. The minutes of the meeting on the 21st January were taken as read and approved.

2 EXTENSION B.B.Cs. OVERSEAS SERVICES

The paper by the B.B.C. which had been prepared at the Ministry's request was discussed. It was explained that the schedule attached to the paper had been arrived at by means of inviting those in charge of the different services to set down what would be the ideal arrangements for their broadcasts and the result had amounted roughly to a trebling of the existing programme times for Overseas broadcasts. It was emphasised that if the programme expansion were to be adequately carried out the fullest priorities would be required in the matter of cash, men and material. A scheme of training was to be established for the staff dealing with news, production, etc., but the fact must be faced that the Ministry would have to seek release of men from the Forces, justify payment of big salaries to neutral linguists, etc., in order to obtain adequate staff. It appeared that something over £500,000 might be required in American dollars, assuming that a satisfactory division of the work in production of transmitters, etc., could be arranged between this country and the United States. Sir Noel Ashbridge explained that 15 months delay would be required before any appreciable expansion could be made in the Overseas Programmes (apart from the expansion planned for the Spring of this year), since this 264 2.period would be required for the manufacture and installation of one unit of six transmitters. To carry out the programme even at this rate would need a powerful direction from the Cabinet so that other Departments would appreciate the importance of the B.B.C's requirements.

In regard to paragraph 13, it was explained that the return of the news elements of the World Service from Wood Norton was a matter which closely interested both the Ministry and the B.B.C., and it would be carried out as soon as suitable accommodation could be got in or near London; explorations were going on at present but the point had not been reached where a specific proposal could be put up.

It was agreed that the paper should be brought up at the Policy Committee on Thursday, 30th January, with a short covering note. The covering note would state clearly the Ministry's conviction of the need for the expansion, and might put the case on the basis that the success of Hitler's propaganda demonstrated that the war might be shortened by use of the broadcasting weapon. Even if it were only shortened by a few days, much more than the expenditure asked for by the B.B.C. would be saved: it did not seem reasonable to consider the question of finance as of supreme importance when it amounted in fact only to a fraction of the daily expenditure on the war through other Services. The covering note might also summarise what would be involved in carrying out the scheme in terms of priorities.