EXECUTIVE BOARD
Monday, January 20th 1941

Present :

D.D.G.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Fraser

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Hodson

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. It was agreed that the point arising on the minutes of the 14th January should be left for discussion when the D.G. could be present. The minutes of the 15th January were taken as read and approved.

2. MINISTRY'S POLICY IN REGARD TO SELLING ARTICLES

Mr. Hodson explained the origin of the present question in objections raised by certain Empire correspondents to selling of articles by the Ministry in their territories. These correspondents maintained that by this policy the bread was taken out of their mouths, the Ministry exceeded its proper functions and the Ministry followed a false principle in attempting to sell propaganda. One objection more real than any of these was that the influence of the Government name would be used to boost articles which were not in fact worth the publicity they would receive. There was the question how far we ought to take a promoting interest in articles, as distinct from buying them outright with world copyright.

[Copy on GP/79/27 and GP/79]

Sir Maurice Peterson suggested, and it was agreed, that the Ministry was entitled to make money from selling articles and even to make a profit on the sale of particular articles (by way of compensation for losses on others). He also suggested that for the most part it would be desirable to use agency channels and not compete with the agencies. Mr. Bamford felt it to be undesirable to work through the agencies and at the same time to sell articles directly.

It was agreed that the Ministry in those cases where it bought world copyright had adequate control over the content and distribution of the articles and that this form of activity should be maintained. Articles should be disposed of through the agencies on a commission basis. As regards the type of article in which the Ministry took a promoting interest by assisting the production and distribution, but did not have strict control, it was agreed that the Ministry need not rule out this type altogether, but that it should be used as little as possible.