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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY

It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.

сі

IS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).

SECRET.

C.O.S.(41) 745

16TH DECEMBER, 1941.

This docu:n ::: was considered at C.0.5. (t) 31 Meeting.

min. 3. COPY NO

23

P.4/3

WAR CABINET

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

FILMS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF COMBINED

OPERATIONS.

Note by the Adviser on Combined Operations.

243

Chiefs of Staff Committee.

The Minister of Information is anxious that adequate arrangements should be made to take films and photographs of any suitable combined operations, and that arrangements should be made for them to be covered by war correspondents.

2.

То

The Director of Public Relations, War Office, is prepared to supply complete units under a conducting officer in sufficient time for them to be trained in the final stages with the troops who are to carry out the operation, preserve secrecy it seems essential that one authority should decide in advance whether and on what dates these teams are to be sent without disclosing the nature of the operation they are covering. I propose that I should make myself responsible for informing the Director of Public Relations and Force Commanders concerned, in sufficient time for each operation,

3.

I propose sharing the responsibility for laying down what should or should not be reported or photographed, since most of the secret matter is essentially of combined operational equipment and its method of use.

4.

I propose also dealing as sympathetically as the need for secrecy will allow with applications for facilities to make films or write articles about combined operations. I should like authority to hold up any such articles or films (e.g., the War Office have asked for facilities for the Army Film Unit to make a documentary film of Combined Operations) until events have justified their release.

(Sgd.) LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN.

Commodore.

Adviser on Combined Operations,

14th December, 1941.

Great George Street, S.W.1.

16th December, 1941.

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