A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
18th April, 1940.
BOOK ACTIVITIES OF GENERAL DIVISION
The following lists the Books being dealt with at the moment by General Division, and gives an idea of the kind of work which is being done.
FRANCE TALKS WITH HITLER
An abbreviated version of the “French Yellow Book”. Text prepared, and pictures selected, by the Ministry. An introduction was obtained by the Ministry from Harold Nicolson. Hutchinsons were persuaded to publish at 6d. in spite of the fact that they were selling the full “French Yellow Book” at 3/6d. A broadcast mention was obtained, and a review appeared in the “Clip-Sheet”; for such a book, the result was a great success - the sales have now reached 67,000 (plus 13,000 bought by the Ministry for distribution abroad).
FRANCE AT WAR
This book, by Somerset Maugham, was made from a series of articles presented by him to the Ministry. Heinemann wished to publish at 1/- or more, but were persuaded by the Ministry to publish at 6d. A broadcast mention was obtained, and a review appeared in the “Clip-Sheet”. Sales have now reached 100,000 (4,000 of which were bought by the Ministry for distribution abroad), and the book is being published in America by Doubleday Doran. Contact is being maintained with this writer.
POLISH WHITE BOOK
This was published entirely commercially by Hutchinsons, at 3/6d. A broadcast mention was obtained, the sales have reached 10,000, and the book is reprinting. Hutchinson is arranging to sell in America.
HITLER SPEAKS
By Rauschning. Negotiations are now being finalised with Thornton Butterworth for an issue of a 6d. version, although the 10/6d edition is still selling. The text is being prepared by the Ministry, and negotiations are proceeding with the owners of the translation rights for editions in German, in Spanish, and for a special English edition to be printed in Shanghai.
FAILURE OF A MISSION
By Sir Nevile Henderson. 80 Advance copies were obtained some time ago for despatch by Foreign Division to Government Officers. A broadcast mention has been asked for, and book rights have been obtained for China (serial rights were obtained for a number of countries).
CATALOGUE OF CRIME
Hutchinsons suggest that it might be possible to publish this Press and Censorship Bureau hand-out as an illustrated sixpenny (it is an account of Germany's activities against Merchant Shipping). We will help with the finding of an author and the arrangement of the text and illustrations, but not financially.
AFTER MEIN KAMPF
Another sixpenny discussed with Hutchinsons, as the story of Hitler's activities since he wrote “Mein Kampf” and, in particular, the gradual restriction of German freedom and the assaults on Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark and Norway. If it goes ahead, we shall help in the finding of an author and the supply of material.
WINSTON CHURCHILL'S FIGHTING SPEECHES
This book was suggested inside the Division, and meets with warm approval from Foreign Division. We have asked that the Minister should approach Mr. Winston Churchill and, possibly, will arrange for an author to select the Speeches. No difficulty will be experienced in finding a publisher in this country, (we hope at 6d.), probably also in America.
THE VOICE OF THE NAZI
This is the book of the Broadcasts, for which arrangements have been made with Collins to publish at 6d. at the earliest possible moment after the last broadcast. Wide publicity will be arranged for the book by the Ministry.
FOREVER FREEDOM
This is an Anthology, in prose and verse, of statements on Liberty and Freedom, prepared by Colonel Josiah Wedgwood and Professor Allan Nevins (U.S.A.). The manuscript was sent to the Minister. We are arranging the remaining copyright permissions for the author, and approaching “Penguins” to publish at 6d. and have advised that Scribners be asked to publish at $2 or $2.50 in the States.
ANSWER TO “UNSER KAMPF”
Information having reached us that this book is a failure, and on the advice of Sir Archibald Sinclair, who was approached as leader of Acland's Party, it has been thought unwise to prepare an answer.
THE LAST HUNDRED DAYS
Following on Sir John Davidson's letter to “The Times”, an author was sought for a book exposing Germany's military infallibility. General Spears and Sir Philip Gibbs were both approached but cannot undertake it.
We are now examining Winston Churchill's “World Crisis” to see whether an excerpt can be made, to publish at 6d. on the military denouement which ended the last war. The object is to show that Germany was, in fact, decisively beaten by the Allied Armed Forces.
THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE
This book, by Lord Strabolgi, published by Hutchinsons, was vetted by the Admiralty and Foreign Division, and has been reviewed in the “Clip-Sheet”. Broadcast mention is being sought.
BRITISH AIR POWER
This book has been written, under commission from Foreign Division, by J. M. Spaight, and will be illustrated by pictures selected by the Ministry. It is wanted primarily for issue in translation, but G.D. are negotiating with a reluctant publisher to produce it attractively and still issue at 2/6d.
MR. RICHARD HUGHES
We have obtained full facilities for him and given much information for a book on Graf Spee and Altmark. We shall be consulted about serial and book publication in all countries.
AIR AND SEA
This is a Fortnightly Part Work, probably with a long life suggested by Hutchinsons, to follow their successful issue of “Mein Kampf”. It may be of considerable importance to the Ministry, and we propose at any rate to help with the selection of text, authors and pictures, though not financially.
BRITAIN'S FIGHTING FORCES
0This book is to be issued in May by Odhams Press, for sale direct to the public, and will certainly be of interest for the Neutrals, although it may receive sufficient publicity in this country and the Empire, without our assistance.
THE DEFENCE OF BRITAIN
Serial rights for Japan in this book, by Liddell-Hart, have been bought by the Ministry and sold to a Japanese magazine.
THE SILENT TRAVELLER IN WAR TIME
A special Chinese edition of this book, by Chaing Yee, is being prepared by the Ministry, in plate form for printing in Shanghai. Negotiations are completed with the author and publishers.
STEP BY STEP
Serial rights in this book, by Winston Churchill, were bought for publication in Greece. Book rights are being sought for Serbia.
TO-MORROW'S WAR
By Stefan Possony.
WE EUROPEANS
By Julian Huxley, A. C. Haddon and A. M. Carr-Saunders.
JOURNEY TO TURKISTAN
By Sir Eric Teichman.
Japanese book rights have been bought for these three books, and sold to a Japanese publisher.
THE MERCHANT NAVY FIGHTS
This book, by A. D. Divine, has just been published by Murray at 2/6d. A broadcast notice and “Clip-Sheet” review are being sought.
THE FLEETS BEHIND THE FLEET
A. D. Divine has been asked to write a book on this theme, and has arranged for John Murray to publish in this country. The Ministry's interest is primarily for the U.S.A., and negotiations are already in hand commercially for publication in book form and for serialisation through the North American Newspaper Alliance.
PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE WAR
THE SECOND GREAT WAR
Negotiations are proceeding for a Japanese Edition of one of these Part Works, to be issued regularly in translation in Japan.
THE NAVY AT WAR
This book, by Bernard Stubbs, is being published by Faber, at 8/6d. The price, though now reduced from 12/6d to 8/6d at the instance of the Ministry, is too high for large distribution of copies, so a special paper-bound edition is being arranged for the purpose. Publicity will be given to the book.
THIS ENGLAND
This large illustrated publication by The Studio was considered, but it was felt that it was a matter entirely for the British Council. Negotiations are still proceeding, however, for the American Division for special terms for sale in the States.
BOOK OF CARTOONS
George Gill are at present selecting foreign cartoons from our collection sent in by Press Attachés, to make a book to sell at a low price.
NORWAY THE GLORIOUS
Hutchinsons are to issue a Weekly Part Work immediately on this subject. We are helping by suggesting authors, and with pictures.
THE GERMAN
A study of the German mentality translated from the French of Jacques Riviere. Hogarth will publish at 2/6d. if the French and British Ministries together purchase 1,000 copies at 1/6d. The French are interested.
In general, the paper question is acute, and much help must be given, to publishers of books specially suited for propaganda purposes, with the Ministry of Supply and the Paper Control.
ACTIVITIES CONNECTED WITH BOOKS ARE :
(1) The issue of a series of leaflets through the National Book Council for insertion in new issues by publishers and book—clubs. A conservative estimate of distribution is 300,000 of each leaflet.
(2) The compilation of a National Book Council list of books stating The British Case, for circulation to the book trade, to the public and to neutral countries.
(3) An exhibition to be staged by the National Book Council on the British War Effort, including books.
It is worth mentioning that publicity methods also include a direct approach to the large distributors such as Simpkin Marshall, W. H. Smith and Woolworths - already with some success - and that efforts have been made with Regional Administration to get our books talked about by the Regional Committees.