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Page 38 matters affecting our relations with self-governing Commonwealth countries, or to the political aspects of Colonial affairs (e.g., self-government in certain Colonies) and on these points should consult the Commonwealth Secretary or Colonial Secretary respectively, unless the matter to be mentioned falls wholly within their own responsibility.

29. In the present international situation special care is needed in conver- sations at social functions at Embassies or at other functions at which foreign diplomatic representatives are present. If matters of foreign policy are discussed at such functions, a note should be made afterwards of the salient points of the conversation and a copy sent to the Foreign Secretary.

30. Unless they have first obtained the agreement of the Leader of the House of Commons, Ministers should avoid saying anything which might affect the pro- gramme of Government business in Parliament. Thus, they should not without his agreement promise White Papers, the publication of which might result in a demand for a special debate; and legislation should never be promised without the express approval of the Cabinet or the Legislation Committee.

By-Elections and Local Government Elections

31. Members of the Cabinet should not normally speak at By-Elections; but other Ministers, including those of Cabinet rank, may do so. As a general rule Ministers above the rank of Parliamentary Secretary should not speak at local government elections. There may, however, be occasions on which a Minister may feel obliged to do so for special reasons, particularly in his own constituency.

Broadcasting Arrangements

32. Ministers intending to broadcast should communicate with the Postmaster-General, who will be responsible for obtaining the Prime Minister's approval and for making the necessary arrangements with the B.B.C. As broad- casts by Ministers may be regarded by the B.B.C. or by the Opposition as controversial and therefore giving a claim to a reply, the subject of the broadcast must in all cases be given and the Prime Minister may require to see either an outline or the text of a broadcast before giving his approval.

33. Broadcasting by sound and by television is a useful instrument for con- veying the British point of view to people in other countries. But before Ministers commit themselves to making broadcasts over foreign wireless systems they should first consult the Foreign Secretary and any other Minister who may be concerned with the subject of the broadcast. They should then seek the permission of the Prime Minister.

If Ministers are invited to broadcast while on a visit to another country they should seek the advice of Her Majesty's representative in that country before accepting the invitation.

Press Articles

IV. Press Articles and Interviews by Ministers

34. Ministers are precluded from the practice of journalism in any form; but this prohibition does not extend to authorship or to writings of a literary,. historical, scientific, philosophical or romantic character. For these there are numerous and respectable precedents.

35. This rule need not be interpreted as debarring a Minister from con- tributing an article or a letter to a newspaper, on occasion, for the purpose of supplementing other means of informing the public about the work of his Depart- ment. In deciding whether to do this, a Minister should bear in mind his obligations to Parliament: for example, he should not discuss a Bill before it has received its Second Reading in the House of Commons. Ministers should not accept payment for such articles.

36. This rule governs dealings with the foreign as well as the home Press.

Party Publications

37.

The rule in paragraph 34 does not debar Ministers from contributing to the publications of the political organisations with which they are associated. Payment should not be accepted for such articles.

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