FOR POLICY COMMITTEE ON MONDAY, 24th
[Tuesday 25th]

COVERING NOTE BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION

I recently entrusted to a committee within the Ministry the task of planning future propaganda measures on the home front. This Committee has now presented to me an interim report, of which the first part, dealing with the themes to be publicised, seems to me of such importance that I am bringing it before my colleagues in the Cabinet.

With regard to the second paragraph, I would emphasise that the authors of the report are not questioning the efficiency or energy of the Government, but merely pointing out that the Government must not only possess these qualities but must also be popularly believed to possess them. The information available to the Ministry of Information suggests that the Public is tired of being left to find for itself ways of helping in the war effort. People want to be ordered about, to have sacrifices imposed upon them, to be provided with occupation obviously related to national defence. Whatever the effect of such sacrifices upon the material war effort, it is important not to overlook their tonic effect on morale, for, unless the demand for compulsion is met, the public will feel that the Government lacks efficiency and energy. The resulting loss of confidence will mean a falling off in the enthusiasm of voluntary efforts.

I would ask my colleagues to give this aspect of Home Morale the most serious consideration and, in deciding on the policy of their Departments, to keep constantly on the watch for ways in which this insistent demand for service and sacrifice may be used. I shall find it difficult to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to me unless I can receive from Departments some schemes by which the universal demand for compulsory service can be satisfied.