[illegible]CW.
POLICY COMMITTEE - July 4th 1940

ANTI-GOSSIP CAMPAIGN.

On the 15th November, 1939 the War Cabinet decided that the Ministry of Information should periodically hold inter- Departmental Conferences to review the results of its (anti-gossip) policy and submit reports, as necessary, to the War Cabinet.

On the 7th March, 1940 an Inter-Departmental Conference was held, and on the 13th March, 1940 Sir John Reith submitted a report to the War Cabinet.

The War Cabinet Offices are now (1.7.40) enquiring about a further report since “the sin of careless talk may have even more serious consequences than before”.

I suggest that anti-gossip has by the course of events ceased to be a separate security question to be dealt with specially by the Deputy Secretary, and should now be regarded as an integral part of the home policy in Sir Kenneth Clark's charge.

I suggest also that another Inter-Departmental Conference is unnecessary. The first was concerned mainly to make suggestions, and again the pressure of events has brought it about that the Ministry gets any suggestions of value emphatically and quickly from other departments without the leisurely and discursive procedure of a large Inter-Departmental Conference.

N.G.S.

3rd July, 1940.