421

SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday 8th May, 1941
C.C

Present:

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Gates

Sir Cecil Graves

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Valentine Williams

Mr. Herbert

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on 24th April were taken as read and approved.

2. LONG TERM PROPAGANDA AT HOME.

[H/22]

The paper by the Parliamentary Secretary was considered. Reference was made to the interest expressed by the R.I.Os. in the suggestion that it had to be driven home to the people that there was little reason to believe the war would be over this year and further that it was not a practicable course to attempt to make peace with Hitler; there was, in fact, no possibility of such a peace being discussed in conditions of stalemate.

There was general agreement with the line taken in the paper and it was agreed that it should be referred to the Planning Committee to consider how the line could be worked out at home, subject to incorporation of points to meet suggestions made in the discussion as follows:-

(a) It should be firmly pointed out that there was no possibility of discussing peace terms on a basis of stalemate.

(b) That more should be made of certain encouraging features in the present situation, e.g.

(1) the difficulties being experienced by the Germans in holding down the large area now under occupation by them. 422 Reference was made in this connection by Sir Maurice Peterson to transport troubles.

(2) to the complete failure of attacks on this country, which Mr. Herbert pointed out were of the greatest importance from the point of view of the enemy.

(3) to the heavy casualties among skilled men being suffered by the Germans in their successive advances in Europe and Africa.

(c) Emphasis could be laid on the important fact that Germany was much further from achieving her objects now than she had been about a year ago when France was collapsing.

3. GUIDANCE FROM CHIEFS OF STAFF

[X/154]

Mr. Radcliffe, referring to the discussion at the Executive Board the previous day, said he had been invited by Colonel Hollis to attend meetings of the Joint Intelligence Committee. It was not felt that this would provide satisfactory means of keeping the Ministry informed since the Committee did not meet often enough and the D.G. said he would speak again to General Ismay.

In regard to news from Iraq, it was generally agreed that the line taken by the Prime Minister in the previous day's debate afforded satisfactory guidance.