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POLICY COMMITTEE
Minutes of 4th Meeting. 2nd February 1940

Director-General

1. PUBLICITY ABOUT THE BRITISH EMPIRE

The paper prepared by Mr. Hodson (P.C. Paper No.1) was considered.

It was decided

(a) That a campaign on this subject be undertaken by the Ministry.

(b) That the campaign be divided into three separate parts, dealing respectively with the Dominions, India and the Colonial Empire

(c) That while the difference in status between the three sections should be emphasised, it should be pointed out that each status represented a stage in a process of organic growth.

(d) That the responsibility for the campaign should be vested in the Empire Publicity Division, which would work in close collaboration, not only with other Government Departments, but also with the other Divisions of the Ministry which were interested, and with Electra House.

(e) That the campaign. should also cover the home front.

(f) That Mr. Hodson should prepare for submission to the Committee a statement showing the probable expenditure and staff requirements involved in the campaign.

(g) That the maximum use should be made of all statements coming from Dominion and Colonial sources.

2. MEMORANDUM ON GENERAL POLICY

Lord Hood said that the Minister wished his Memorandum (P.C. Paper No.3) to be circulated along with Lord Macmillan's Memorandum (P.C. Paper No.4). Circulation would be to Directors of Divisions and to Regional Information Officers.

3. FOREIGN PROPAGANDA POLICY .

Consideration of Mr. Carr's Paper on this subject (P.C. Paper No.5) was postponed until the next meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee.

4. HOME INTELLIGENCE.

P.C. Paper No. 6 was discussed.

Mrs. Adams emphasised her belief that any activity undertaken by the Ministry in this direction must be regarded as a legitimate activity. Although the results of the investigation must remain private, and some of the methods employed should not be given unavoidable publicity, it ought to be possible for the Ministry to make public the existence of the investigation.

The possibility was mentioned that the Postal Censorship might cease to compile reports and confine itself to handing on raw material. In that case, the situation might be met by placing a representative of the Ministry in the Censorship.

Sir Edward Grigg laid stress on the necessity for making sure of the co-operation of all sections of the political parties before carrying the proposals further, and before entering on any discussions which might give them publicity. The original Intelligence Division had aroused the gravest suspicions.

It was decided .

(a) That Mrs. Adams should prepare a list of the staff which she had in mind, giving names.

(b) That, in this connection, Mrs. Adams and the Establishment Branch should explore with the Ministry of Labour the possibility of obtaining the right people.

(c) That the Minister should be asked to discuss the matter with the organisers of the political parties.

(d) That no further decision should be taken by the Committee until the results of the Minister's conversations were known.

(e) That the possibility should be considered of allowing the leaders of the political parties to see the routine monthly reports (but not the special reports) of any organisation set up.

(f) That discussion of the scheme should be taken off the agenda of the meeting of R.I.Os on February 3rd.