44 45 - 2 -

SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Friday 25th April, 1941

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Gates

Minister

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 23rd April were taken as read and approved.

2. NATIONAL ANTHEMS OF THE ALLIES

Reference was made to the length of the Programme devoted to National Anthems on Sunday Evening. It was agreed that the Parliamentary Secretary might suggest to Mr. Ryan that the B.B.C. Home Board the following week should consider whether each Sunday only a few of the National anthems should be played, the announcer making it clear that others would follow in later weeks.

[B/6/19]

3. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE

The Parliamentary Secretary referred to Questions he had been asked the previous day about B.B.C. news. He understood that objection was taken to stories being interspersed with the news. It was agreed that he should suggest to the B.B.C. Home Board that a clear distinction be made between the news itself and stories which might be added to it, e.g. from the Air Ministry News Service. In discussion it was generally felt that the B.B.C. should be quite free to select their stories and should not feel themselves obliged to broadcast all stories put out by Government Departments.

[B/82]

4. B.B.C. BROADCASTS IN GERMAN

The D.D.G. referred to suggestions that a code might be in use in connection with mistakes made in these broadcasts, and asked what sort of investigation should be made. It was agreed that we should discuss the matter with Brigadier Harker of M.I.5.

[X/162]

5. SUNDAY PAPERS IN EIRE

The D.D.G. reported that he had discussed this matter with Sir William Palmer, whose view was that it would be fatal to make paper available from the Ministry's ration and that in view of the strong influence which could be exercised over the Press if we took a firm line we should simply encourage the newspapers to resume distribution in Eire. He added that the SUNDAY DISPATCH were resuming distribution this week and that others would follow. We had been asked by the SUNDAY DISPATCH to indicate if possible whether the resumed distribution was meeting our needs.

[EP/108/24]

6. CENSORSHIP OF FEATURE FIIMS

On a point raised by Sir Kenneth Clark about the exhibition of “Comrade X”, which had given offence to M. Maisky in view of the limited release of the anti-Nazi film “Professor Mamlock”, the Minister said he would not be prepared to defend in the House any measures we might take against “Comrade X”.

Mr. Bamford referred to a letter written by a member of the Films Division referring to possible “banning” of a Zionist film, and it was agreed that it should be made clear to the Films Division that the Ministry's powers were limited to refusal on security grounds to permit export.

[F/404]

7. INVASION PAMPHLET

The Minister reported that it had been decided to distribute the Invasion pamphlet as soon as possible but that it was being held up in order that an amendment in the foreword desired by the Home Secretary could be incorporated.

8. B.B.C. TALKS FROM DUBLIN (See minutes of meeting on 3rd April)

The Minister reported in regard to the discussion by the Policy Committee on this matter that the Secretary of State for the Dominions shared our hesitations about broadcasts on the lines described and it was agreed that they should not be undertaken for the time being.