The Director General reported that the Vote would be debated on Tuesday next. Mr. Noel-Baker would lead and Mr. Ridley wind up. The former was calling at 4 p.m. this afternoon to explain the points he proposes to raise. It was understood that he would try to talk about Sir Campbell Stuart's activities, propaganda in neutral countries when the present phase has passed, and home intelligence. He had undertaken to keep off U.S.A. and to ask other speakers to do the same. It was understood that a brief is in preparation.
2.
HOME MORAL EMERGENCY COMMITTEE.
Mr. Nicolson reported further progress. It was proposed to issue a new poster now, another four weeks later, and a third later still. The Treasury had agreed to the hiring of sites for three months and the cost of printing the first poster - total £31,000. Sir Kenneth Clark pointed out that the second poster would have to be started in a week's time. Treasury sanction was, therefore, an urgent matter.
[See file: Home Moral Emergency Committee.]
There was also a proposal to distribute two million pamphlets through shops (14 tons of paper). The Deputy Secretary observed that the Treasury had criticised the proposal and Mr. Nicolson agreed that the committee would try to reduce the pamphlet to one page.
The Ministry of Home Security had been asked to put out A.R.P. strip posters; also good posters for banks, with extracts from the Prime Minister's speech etc. were in hand.
The Emergency Committee had also considered action to recommend on the breakdown of communications. The mind of the public should be accustomed to the idea of mouth to mouth information. The R.I.Os. were to be asked to work out schemes based on local political canvassers.
The positive aspect of anti-waste should be emphasised. It was decided that we should interview Mr. Judd and the Ministry of Health. It was noted that it had not been so far possible to take active steps in the campaign.
Anti-gossip [illegible] in key towns were suggested.
The News Reel Companies were being approached to assist with short reels emphasising the need for hard work and comradeship; the prestige of air raid wardens, and the effects of rumour. Ministry of Information documentaries were also to be shown.
On Monday Leader writers were to be interviewed by Mr. Harold Nicolson, who would give them our ideas and ask them for theirs.
(The Director General left the meeting. The Deputy Director General took the chair).
3.
EXTENSION OF POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH CENSORSHIP
.
It was noted that the banning of the export of the “Daily Worker” and other publications raised the question of evasion by means of the post and telegrams. It was explained that Mr. Herbert and Mr. Radcliffe had been asked to endeavour to draft instructions which would have the effect of aligning the Postal and Telegraph Censorship in the matter of passing subversive material, with the powers now exercised under the Defence Regulations, to prevent the export in bulk of the same material.
4.
BROADCASTS BY CABINET MINISTERS AND OTHERS
.
[See: W.P.(C)(40) 138 File: BBC relations with M.O.I.]
Mr. Wellington reported that the Minister had agreed that all arrangements for Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament to speak should be handled by the Broadcasting Division in the Ministry. It was agreed that a note should be prepared by the Deputy Secretary and Mr. Wellington for circulation to the Cabinet if the Minister wished.
5.
FRONT BENCH SPEAKERS
.
It was noted that the campaign for Front Bench speakers had been abandoned for the present.
6.
TREATMENT OF FRENCH AS ALIENS
.
It was noted that the treatment of French as aliens was causing great resentment. It was thought that the Cabinet might be invited to decide, in principle, that the French in this country should be assimilated with the British: the British were assimilated with the French in France. It should be suggested to the Foreign Office that this point of view should be put to the Cabinet and it was thought that the Minister might wish to consider whether he would support this view. The position of Americans and other friendly neutrals was also discussed, and a decision was deferred.
Lord Perth thought it necessary not to apply the principle of the exemption of the French from restrictions without reserve, and suggested that the French Consuls should be asked to supply a certificate for those who were to be exempted (subsequently recorded) in a note from Lord Perth to Mr. Kirkpatrick). (Note in Papers file).
