SECRET.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Wednesday, 30th April, 1941 .

Present:

D. G.

D. D. G.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson.

Sir Kenneth Clark.

Mr. Radcliffe.

Mr. Bamford.

Mr. Gates.

Mr. Wadde11 (Secretary).

1. Minutes of the meeting on the 29th April were taken as read and approved.

2. PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH .

Lord Davidson reported that he had authorised on his own responsibility a special printing by the B.B.C. of the Prime Minister's speech on Sunday evening. This action was approved by the Board.

3. ATTITUDE OF THE PRESS .

The D. G. referred to indications he had received that the Press intended an attack on Government policy in regard to news. It was understood that the American correspondents in particular were disturbed at the concealment of losses. It was felt that neither they nor the public would be pleased to learn the Cabinet decision which had just been taken not to publish any figures of shipping losses.

Sir Kenneth Clark referred to the serious effect this decision would have on the value of the work being done about the Battle of the Atlantic; it would not be easy to publicise the Battle if nothing could be said about the losses being sustained.

It was agreed that preparation of the material for the Battle of the Atlantic should continue and that the D.G. should ask the Minister whether he would care to discuss the whole situation with the members of the Board rather than have a Policy Meeting the following day.

[M/159/1]