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LEAFLETS, BOOKLETS, BOOKS, LECTURES, SPEECHES.

Practically all the themes indicated in preceding pages are capable of effective treatment in leaflets and booklets for general or sectional distribution.

These can best take the form of

“NON-OFFICIAL” BOOKLETS, PAMPHLETS AND BOOKS which the Ministry can inspire and co-operate with private publishers in producing.

The most effective use for such productions is (a) for the detailed treatment of a specific topic or aspect of the war (b) for appealing to a particular group.

Where they are sold they will naturally tend chiefly to reach only the middle-classes and are thus particularly suited to dealing with the problems of that class - resisting pro-Germanism. defeatism, rousing indignation about the German treatment of women and children etc.

Where they are distributed free through the Regional Organisation and through Voluntary Helper Organisations they are best kept as short as possible. The tempo of the war is getting too fast for overmuch argument except in dealing with the “arguing” classes.

If leaflet distribution is used, however - and it is only justifiable when no other satisfactory means exists, - it should be done on a really big scale. 50,000 or 100,000 leaflets on a general topic are no use. It should go out in millions. But 50,000 or 100,000 leaflets - railway workers about German railway workers’ conditions is a very different matter.

PAMPHLETS

1) A series of six “popular” pamphlets, illustrated in gravure, for wide sale at 3d., are already in preparation. The subjects are the Nazi cruelty and oppression in Czechoslovakia and Poland, the suppression of workers’ rights, of family life, and of freedom of expression. An attempt is made to translate these evil things into terms of everyday English life, (with maps of London with Pall Mall shown as Hitlerstrasse, etc).

Authors are:

Herbert Morrison.

E.M.Delafield.

Vernon Bartlett.

H. V. Morton.

Howard Spring.

Negley Farson.

2) A second “popular” series at 3d. explains and dramatises our fundamental liberties in terms of the fight through history to win them. The men of our own flesh and blood who won these grim and glorious battles in the past must not be betrayed.

3) A third series, also at 3d., states the same themes to the cultivated mind.

Authors already writing are:

The Dean of Chichester.

Mgr. Ronald Knox.

Dr. C.E.M. Joad.

Rebecca West.

E.M.Forster.

A.P.Herbert.

Julian Huxley.

Harold J. Laski.

J. R. Clynes.

LEAFLETS . Illustrated leaflets on similar themes designed to reach particular publics through various methods of distribution. In general, one leaflet to make one point only. Examples are:

1. Selected statements of Hitler and Goebbels (from “Mein Kampf” and “Hitler Speaks”) for general distribution.

2. German enslavement of the worker by trickery and violence; what “no unemployment in Germany” really means (to industrial organisations).

3. Indiscriminate sea warfare (to merchant seamen).

4. Security Lost if Germany Wins (to Civil Service).

5. Moral perversion of the children: 16 year old barbarians in uniform (Women's Institutes).

ANTI SUBVERSIVE ACTION In connection with anger, leaflets are particularly valuable to concentrate counter-attack on points where subversive agents are active - in works suspected of disaffection through communist activity etc.

BOOKS that give documentary facts arousing anger must be given utmost publicity. (Ministry recommendations to editors to review etc). Really serious atrocity material is best done this way q. v. Bryce Report and “Murder Most Foul” - last war. Foreign comment to be traced and reproduced as evidence of world indignation.

LECTURES Those already organised by R.A.D. could assist the anger campaign (special notes and facts for speakers) particularly at women’s institutes etc.

SPEECHES The day for mere denunciation is gone but Ministerial and other speeches which provide usable tags (“The Unspeakable Hun”) are very valuable. Only Ministers capable of handling emotional speeches (as distinct from merely factual ones) such as the Prime Minister and the Minister should be broadcast for this purpose.