"Special Operations Executive In France" (Author's Fee) 65. Dame Irene Ward asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange, on the normal basis on which writers operate, for the appropriate commission to be paid to Mr. M. R. D. Foot the writer of Special Operations Executive. Mrs. White The authors of Government publications, including official histories are paid a salary or fee and do not receive any commission or royalties. Mr. Foot was paid an agreed fee for his work on "Special Operations Executive in France".