413 414 -2-

SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE.
Thursday 17th April, 1941

Present:

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Ogilvie

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Valentine Williams

Mr. Herbert

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. The minutes of the meeting on the 3rd April were taken as read and approved. Mr. Ogilvie reported in regard to Item 3 that Sir Noel Ashbridge had been in touch with Captain Plugge and that a memorandum had been supplied indicating how much it would be proper to let Captain Plugge know about plans for overseas broadcasting. Mr. Ogilvie also reported in regard to Item 6 that negotiations had been opened with the Crown Agents for the American transmitter owned by the B.B.C. to be sent to Singapore and for the Finnish transmitter to be used in this country. It was understood that the Minister had sanctioned this course.

[RC/31/4]

2. East Coast Transmitter.

The D.D.G. reported that agreement had been reached by the B.B.C., the Air Ministry and the Post Office against the Kentish site and in favour of a site near Hull. The Wireless Telegraphy Board the previous day had agreed upon this site and B.B.C. representatives had already inspected it with a view to settling the layout of the station. It was understood that the estimate of cost on which the discussions had hitherto been proceeding would on this new site be considerably exceeded.

[RC/31/15]

Mr. Ogilvie mentioned that Sir Noel had been anxious to put on record his appreciation of the good will shown by the Wireless Telegraphy Board, the other parties to the discussions.

3 . Absence of News .

[N/]

The D.G. referred to a discussion he had attended the previous day at which the Prime Minister had been in the Chair. It appeared that the Members of the War Cabinet fully appreciated the difficult position in which the Press were put by the absence of news from Greece and other Middle Eastern fronts. It was not, however, possible to offer any assistance either to the Press or to the B.B.C. since news simply was not available.

It was hoped that more information would be in our hands later in the day, when the Minister was to see the Press.