SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
16th July 1940

Present:

D.G.

D.S.

P.S.

Lord Perth

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Wellington

P.P.S.

Mr. Gates

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

1. POLICY WITH REGARD TO ISSUE OF OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS OF SERVICE MINISTRIES

2. OVERLAPPING OF REPORTS

It was decided to discuss items 1 and 2 on the following day. Appropriate documents on item 2 were to be circulated.

3. REUTER'S ACTIVITIES

The paper was considered. The Director General said that there had been a proposal to discontinue the Reuter's Commercial Service of market prices and the Leafield City Service. Lord Perth said that he thought that the position in Portugal should be looked into. He was under the impression that there was some demand in Portugal for these services at some time. It was decided that enquiries should be made as to the usefulness of the X-ray to U.S.A.

It was noted that there had from time to time been various complaints made against Reuter services generally. Mr. Kirkpatrick said that a paper was being drafted on the subject. It was decided that this should be considered with a view to making representations to Reuters if thought expedient. The B.B.C. interest in the question was noted.

Lord Perth enquired whether Reuters might not be embarrassed by the absence of Mr. Chancellor, who was the Government nominee, and that there might be a case for putting in a man to take his place for the time being. This was to be considered with the other points.

4. PUBLICATION OF FIGURES ABOUT FLOATING DEBT.

The Director General said that it had been brought the Minister's notice that it was proposed to discontinue publication of the details of the floating debt The unanimous view of the members of the Committee was that it would be a mistake to allow publication to cease. We were now entering into an era of concealment of information, which was having an effect on the public. It was decided that the Minister should be advised to make representations.

5. WORKERS’ CHALLENGE STATION

Attention was called to a new station called the Workers’ Challenge Station, which was running propaganda in conjunction with the N.B.B.S. It was noted that the Army found this propaganda particularly undesirable and were likely to put up a paper asking that the whole policy of jamming should be reconsidered in order that it could be neutralised.