433 434 -2-

Secretariat Registry
SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, 3rd July, 1941

Present:

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Gates

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Ogilvie

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Herbert

Mr. Grubb

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 26th June were taken as read and approved. It was understood that the Minister had not yet received a reply from the Secretary of State for Air about B.B.C. accommodation; that the Westinghouse transmitter had now been found definitely unsuitable and that a specification for a Marconi transmitter was being prepared; that Mr. Raymond Gram Swing was expected to arrive the following day; and that representations had been made to the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Labour about displays of photographs to stimulate production.

2. National Anthems of the Allies

Mr. Ogilvie reported that the National Anthems of the Allies were considered to have useful propaganda value on Sunday evenings and that with Mr. Kirkpatrick's assistance the B.B.C. were examining the possibility of varying the present arrangements, possibly by using national songs or more than one anthem each evening. Reference was to a P.Q. being asked about the absence of the Internationale from this programme, and it was understood that Mr. Kirkpatrick had emphasised that Sir Stafford Cripps should be consulted before this or other Russian items were included.

[B/6/19]

3. INVASION EXERCISE

The D.D.G. described discussions in which he had taken part and said that the question whether an exercise should be held was being submitted to the Cabinet. The public would receive a general warning some time before but would not be given information about the time at which the exercise would take place or any details of it. Mr. Herbert reported that he had learned from the War Office that instructions were being issued to the military to allow the movement of people whose duties required them to move; this meant the recognition of Censorship and other Government passes.

[X/168]

4. STATEMENT OF PUBLIC MEN ON THE ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA

Mr. Grubb explained the need to disabuse people in neutral countries, particularly Latin America, of the belief that this could be regarded as an ideological war. He said the Prime Minister's statements were not in themselves enough material on which to base a big campaign, and it was agreed that Mr. Grubb should draft a letter for the Minister to send to various personalities who were considered likely to carry some weight in Latin America inviting them to make short statements for use abroad by any means of publicity open to the Ministry.

[FP/121/106.]

5. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLICITY ARRANGEMENTS

Mr. Ogilvie referred to difficulties the B.B.C. had experienced recently in connection with the meeting of Allied Statesmen at St. James's and the Torch of Victory ceremony in Downing Street. It was understood that the Foreign Office had been in charge of the arrangements on the former occasion and the Minister directed that if any similar occasion arose in the future the Ministry should take care to claim responsibility for doing the publicity and should seek to enforce its claim.

[FP/85/619]