The Director General observed that he had had his attention called by the Director of the Censorship Division to the divulging of Information in correspondence by Chairmen and other members of business firms, who were referring openly to key points, etc. It was agreed that a warning should be issued. This would fall to the Commercial Relations Division.
2.
REUTERS AND HAVAS
The Director General referred to the position of the Havas News Service. The question arose whether we should endeavour to assist Reuters to capture the Havas market at once or whether we should try to keep alive some French organisation derived from that part of Havas which remained unaffected by German control, if any. The Director General inclined to the view that we should do all we can to assist Reuters to get into the field and not attach importance in view of the political situation to endeavouring to keep alive some organisation which would soon have to be dissociated from Havas and would therefore probably have to be established in competition with the parent firm. Lord Perth said that on the whole he thought that while there was any chance at all of the establishment of an alternative French Government in North Africa or elsewhere we should allow M. Bret's organisation to continue its 2,000 word service. He thought that ten days or a fortnight would be sufficient to make the position clear.
In the meantime it was noted that Mr. Chancellor of Reuters was in the Far East and would probably be able to go across to America at short notice to establish Reuters’ service there. It was also noted that approaches were being made to Reuters on the basis that they might be willing to turn over their Service to the New York agent of Havas in order that together with the 2,000 words sent out from London a wordage of 5,000 to 6,000 Allied news might be established as an interim measure. It might be possible to supplement this with 2,000 words sent by Rugby on behalf of the U.P. The reply from Reuters was not yet reported, but it was agreed that we should ask them to send Mr. Chancellor to South America as soon as possible to explore the ground, whether it was decided to keep the Bret Organisation going or not.
3.
INSTRUCTIONS BY THE PRIME MINISTER ABOUT BROADCASTING
The Director General reported that he had had a
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- 2 -letter from General Ismay the night before informing him that the Prime Minister had expressed the hope that the maximum possible number of broadcasts should be made daily in French and showed great interest in the question of propaganda in France.
Mr. Kirkpatrick explained that the importance of both these matters was fully realised. A very large amount of time, six periods a day, was devoted to broadcasting in French, and some efforts were being made to get material into France, but there had been no effective communications. He explained the possibility of dropping leaflets by balloons, but the R.A.F. had not so far been able to offer effective cooperation. After discussion the Director General enquired whether we should ask for General Ismay's assistance. Mr. Kirkpatrick suggested first that General Ismay's good Offices should be invited with the Air Ministry to get a balloon service started, and secondly that he should be asked to do what he could to prevent French Speakers being put on without proper authority. A general discussion then ensued on the difficulties (which were increasing) arising in connection with sudden orders to the B.B.C. to allow various French and Polish officers to broadcast. These instructions emanated from different authorities, and sometimes the first that was known was that General de Gaulle or another person would arrive at Broadcasting House and state that he had authority to speak at once. This gave rise to great difficulty, particularly in relation to the Poles, who claimed to have full authority to put out material which sometimes appeared to the B.B.C. officer on duty to be dangerous. Colonel Scorgie doubted whether there was any evidence to show that these political broadcasts had been particularly valuable. He thought that the position was rather that the individuals themselves had exercised their influence to get these facilities in a way which was hardly justified by circumstances. Mr. Ryan however said that both General Sikorski and General de Gaulle had given very good broadcasts, and provided that they carried full weight he thought that they were of considerable importance. He noted that many of these points had been dealt with in the paper which he had asked to be circulated for next Monday's meeting.
It was generally decided that the matter should again be taken up when the Minister was present and that it was necessary to make some interim arrangements. Lord Perth, Mr. Kirkpatrick and Mr. Peake undertook to get into touch with the Foreign Office, and the Director General proposed to see General Ismay on the subject. Mr. Wellington was to supply a note on the General de Gaulle episode for the Director General's use.
4.
TALKS ON MATTERS AFFECTING HOME MORALE
Mr. Macadam enquired who had the responsibility for seeing that talks relating to matters affecting home morale were in line with policy. The Director General assumed that Sir Richard Maconachie was sufficiently familiar with the general lines of policy to undertake this. The Director of the Broadcasting Division was also a representative of the Planning Committee and broadcasts arising from that or from the Policy Committee would normally be sent to him by the B.B.C.
It was mentioned that Under Secretaries and other Ministers sometimes made a practice of sending in their scripts so late that no proper supervision was possible. Mr. Nicolson undertook to ring up any Under Secretary who was to speak to ensure that he gave the authorities adequate time to consider the script.
5.
OFFER TO TAKE CHILDREN BY U.S.A
It was reported that we had now ascertained that Mr. Shakespeare's Committee was dealing with offers from the U.S.A. as well as from the Dominions and Colonies. The question raised by Sir Frederick Whyte should therefore be sent to that Committee.
6.
REPORT OF PLANNING COMMITTEE
This subject was deferred until Monday. Sir Kenneth Clark undertook to circulate a note of what had been done for consideration.
DECISIONS
MEMBER CONCERNED
1. That a warning should be issued to Commercial firms about divulging information in correspondence.
Director General
2. That Reuters should be asked to send Mr. Chancellor to South America as soon as possible to explore the ground in connection with providing a news service.
3. That we should get into touch with the Foreign Office about the question of the difficulties arising out of the broadcasts of Frenchmen and Poles.
Lord Perth
Mr. Peake
Mr. Kirkpatrick
4. That a note should be supplied to the Director General on matters arising out of General de Gaulle's broadcasts.
Mr. Wellington
5. That General Ismay should be seen on the subject of broadcasts by Poles and Frenchmen
Director General
6. That Under Secretaries should be rung up before broadcasting to ensure that the authorities had adequate time to consider the scripts.
Mr. Nicolson
7. That the question raised by Sir Frederick Whyte about the offer to take children by the U.S.A. should be referred to Mr. Shakespeare’s Committee.
