SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tuesday, 25th March, 1941

Present:

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

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

2. Suggestion that Authors should be attached to the Services.

The paper giving the views of the Service Departments on Mr. Priestley's proposal was discussed. It was agreed that there were two questions involved: first, whether writers should be employed or attached to the services in the way proposed and, second, whether the Authors’ National Committee should be consulted in connection with this employment. The answer to the first was, it appeared from the Service Departments replies, in the affirmative, but in the view of the meeting, the answer to the second must be in the negative since it was not felt to be proper to take the views of any self-constituted body on such a matter. It was agreed that the D.G. should be advised to reply to Mr. Priestley on these lines.

[LE/2/15]

3. Committee of the Directors of Public Relations

Sir Kenneth Clark referred to discussion into which he was likely be drawn in connection with the general responsibility of the Ministry. It was agreed that in view of the wide responsibilities given to the Ministry by the Cabinet at the beginning of the war our line must be that on matters within our competence we must take action and accept the responsibility for seeing that any Department concerned in the action was properly consulted.

[X/139/1]

4. Press Relations Officer.

The D. D.G. referred to the appointment as from Monday, 31st March of Mr. Francis Williams, to work under Mr. Radcliffe.

[A/529/30]

5. Select Committee.

The D.D.G. intimated that the sub-Committee of the Select Committee which was concerned with the Ministry was examining the Press and Censorship Divisions that morning.