49 50

POLICY COMMITTEE
22ND MAY, 1940

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

P.S.

Lord Perth

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Peake

Mr. Wellington

P.P.S.

Lord Davidson

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Bevan

Mr. Cowan

Mr. Francis

Mr. Hodson

Mr. Maclennan

Sir Frederick Whyte

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

The Director General explained that on Wednesdays it was proposed, as an experiment, to have larger meetings of the Policy Committee to which all the Directors were invited. It was not clear yet what kind of subject would be appropriate for discussion at this meeting and the arrangement was experimental.

1. MONTHLY REPORT TO THE CABINET.

The previous Minister had laid great emphasis on the present form of the report, but as circumstances were changing it might be well to consider again what emphasis should be placed on the different aspects of the Ministry's work. In the present crisis the chief activity at the Ministry was to produce news, with special reference to maintaining the morale of the Home Front. It was suggested and agreed that the next report should deal with the role of the Minister in broadcasting and with the recent developments in Press guidance, made possible by the Duty Room organisation.

2. POSSIBLE MODIFICATION OF PROPAGANDA POLICY .

In the course of discussion on the previous item, the question was raised whether the Ministry should reconsider its attitude towards long term propaganda and base its activity on the assumption of an intense effort over a short period. It became apparent that the treatment of each country would have to be considered in accordance with the merits of the case and as the matter had not been placed on the agenda no definite decision was taken.

3. GUIDANCE FOR THE HOME FRONT .

The meeting then considered how to deal with the situation at home. It was generally agreed that there was great anxiety on the part of all to contribute to the war effort and that unless this desire were satisfied the danger of a break in morale might arise in the event of further developments. It appeared necessary that we should tell the public how they could

[See file “Home Moral Emergency Committee”.]

most usefully occupy themselves, if they were not already fully engaged in work. It was decided that a small committee should be set up under the Parliamentary Secretary to consider and report as a matter of urgency what the Ministry could do in this respect. Lord Davidson emphasised the importance of obtaining the support of the commercial interests and it was agreed that he should make himself responsible for commercial relations at home as well as abroad.

4. CO-OPERATION WITH JEWS, MOSLEMS, ETC .

Lord Davidson was of the opinion that the time had come to consider whether we should not address ourselves to the Jews and even to the Moslems in general, as sections of the people each having common ideals. Mr. Maclennan said that this question had been carefully discussed from the earliest days of the formation of the Ministry and that competent opinion had always held that the Jewish and Moslem approach was a racial rather than a religious question. The numerous sects within these faiths were so different as to make a common approach inappropriate. For this reason it had been decided that the geographical division should apply also to the specific approach to Jews and Moslems. After further discussion it was decided to maintain this decision.