SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Friday. 18th April, 1941 .

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

Sir Maurice Peterson.

Lord Davidson.

Sir Kenneth Clark.

Mr. Radcliffe.

Mr. Gates.

Mr. Wiltshire.

Mr. Waddell, Secretary

1. The Minutes of the meeting on 16th April were taken as read and approved. The D.G. referred to the discussion at the Policy Committee on the previous day, when the absence of news from the Middle Eastern Fronts had been in question, and reported that the Minister was in communication with the Prime Minister on the matter.

2. Library Service for the Press

The paper circulated by Mr. Radcliffe was discussed, and the general principle of it was approved. Reference was made to the value of the proposals now made in making available to the Press Reference Library facilities as well as the special material in the Ministry's possession. It was agreed that no attempt should be made at present to secure subscriptions. It was to be hoped that, in view of the appreciation the Press were at present showing of the facilities in question, the Ministry would not be bombarded by requests for increased facilities.

[FP/210]

3. Arrangements for Release of News on Economic Matters.

[Tend]

Lord Davidson, in referring to the papers which had been circulated, mentioned that the Ministry of Economic Warfare had generally been of great assistance in giving proper publicity to economic activities; the Ministry of Supply, however, was not such a coherent Department, and he felt doubtful whether Mr. Henderson, the Press Officer, would be able to effect the necessary co-ordination.

It was generally agreed in discussion that the instances given in Mr. Marriner's paper were, for the most part, matters between the trade concerned and the Government, and were not necessarily appropriate for release as news to the public at home and abroad; it was thought that if an approach were made by the Ministry to, say, the Ministries of Supply and 34 - 2 -Food or the Board of Trade, the answer would be that no good purpose would have been served by informing the public on the instances in question and, indeed, some harm might have been done.

It was agreed that Mr. Wiltshire should explain to Mr. Crump the substance of the discussion on the lines indicated and might mention the possible value of Mr. Heald's section to Mr. Crump. The meeting went on to consider the general questions arising from the Ministry's relations with the Committee of P.R.Os, which was mentioned by Mr. Marriner.

On these questions, the D.G. reported that the Minister had been in communication with Mr. Herbert Morrison and the nature of the reply to be sent by Mr. Morrison had been under consideration in the Ministry of Home Security. There had been a suggestion that the D.G. should discuss the matter with Sir George Gater. It was agreed that the D.G. should consult the Minister on the next step to be taken, and should advise that in the Board's view the minimum requirement of the Ministry should be that if the Committee was to continue, it should meet in the Ministry under the chairmanship of an official of the Ministry, and should include such members of the Ministry's staff as were required for the business in hand. This attitude would be based on the responsibility with which the Ministry had been charged by the War Cabinet, and it would be unnecessary to suggest the abolition of the Committee of P.R.Os; the Committee might quite properly continue for any purposes desired by the Ministry of Home Security which did not impede the discharge of our own responsibilities.

4. Letters of Recommendation and Testimonials.

The D.D.G. referred to the discussion on this matter on 2nd April and read the terms of a draft circular which had been prepared. The general lines of this circular were approved.

5. Propaganda through Jewish Religious Organisations .

[FP/39/22]

Lord Davidson reported in regard to the discussion on 9th April that Mr. Berlin's position in New York was simply that of a member of a staff of the B.P.S. and that he did not act as a Jewish adviser. The D.G. said he would speak to the Minister on the question before Lord Davidson took it further in discussion with the Chief Rabbi or in other ways.