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3
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477. We can clearly afford to free periodicals from control from 4th March. I propose this date since it is the first day after the end of the present rationing period. And any appreciably earlier date might allow inadequate time for the proprietors to make their plans.
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8. It will have to be made clear to the newspapers that, given an increase to seven pages up to Christmas, they will then have to revert to six pages except during the four weeks for the election, and that the prospects of repeating this increase in the second half of 1950 and thereafter depend entirely on the future supply position. I should also propose to inform them that we will not cut exports to reimpose control on periodicals in the latter half of 1950 in order to provide an extra page for the newspapers.
9. I propose, therefore
(i) that newspapers should be allowed seven pages up to the end of the
year, and an extra page for four weeks during the election;
(ii) that periodicals should be freed on 4th March;
(iii) that any further increases for newspapers in 1950 should be left for
consideration as the supply situation develops.
Board of Trade,
:
Millbank, S.W. 1,
8th November, 1949.
H. W.
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