MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
HOME INTELLIGENCE SPECIAL REPORT NO. 15
SECRET

14th April 1942

PUBLIC REACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF INVASION MEASURES

In Home Intelligence Weekly Report No. 78, 1st April 1942, there appeared preliminary reports of public reaction to Sir John Anderson's recent statement in Parliament on the invasion duties of the civil population. More detailed reports have now been received, and in this memorandum both the earlier and more recent accounts have been combined. A total of twenty reports was received from twelve Regions; the main points that have been made are summarised below.

North Eastern Region

“All reports indicate that the speech was almost unnoticed” says the Regional Information Officer, who quotes two contacts as saying that Sir John Anderson is considered “dull”, and that therefore “people do not note what he says”.

Discussion of invasion is stated to have increased slightly, but it is also said that there is “absolute confidence in our ability to repel it”. Where such discussion has arisen, a propos of the Government's statement, this has been criticised as being “too vague”. The passive role is said to be resented; “people want to be told what to do, not merely what not to do”.

North Midland Region

There have been some comments on a newspaper report describing in the following terms the discussion in the House: “Instructions have been drawn up in case the Germans make a rapid advance and civilians find themselves behind the enemy lines, but these instructions are at present being kept secret”. The Regional Information Officer reports some fear lest they be “still secret after the civilians are cut off; there is an increasing demand for specific instructions now ”.

Approval is expressed for the “stand firm” as against the “stay put” policy, though “the majority continue to be sceptical of invasion”. Inhabitants of coastal districts, though reminded by the closing of these areas “that the invasion season is here”, do not seem to be taking the threat seriously, as “they were not ordered away as before; some point to coils of rusting wire and decomposing obstructions” as evidence that invasion is unlikely. Among “responsible people, however, who appear to be taking the possibility seriously, Invasion Committees seem to be a popular move”. It is hoped they will not be confined to Local Authorities boundaries, and that there will be some co-ordination between adjacent Committees.

A demand is reported from Civil Defence Workers “to be taught the use of firearms and other means of fighting”. This feeling is confirmed by the following extract from a report by a Local Information Sub-Committee: “The view of the Committee is that people want training in how to defend their homes. It is felt that this requires speeding up and that the Prime Minister should give instructions to the people on the question of defence and destruction of the invader. The people want to know what to do and how to do it. There should be instructional films on invasion”.

Eastern Region

Though to many people the threat of invasion apparently remains “unreal and remote”, the Government's statement was welcomed by those who were apprehensive of civilian preparations against the event. The instructions were welcomed as the type of enquiry being: “From whom do we take our orders?” The Regional Information Officer adds that “meetings are being held to explain invasion preparations to the public and to enlist their co-operation well before the event”.

It is suggested that “the new instructions are far from sufficient”, and it is asked “why, in the event of an invasion, should we not all fight like blazes against the invader and be armed to do it?” Women especially are thought to feel the lack of official recognition of themselves “as a potential force”, and are said to resent[Text Missing] “the old idea of men fighting to protect their womenfolk”. The example of Russian women is constantly cited in[Text Missing] this connection.

Other points which have been raised are in connection with the arming of the police (a desire for which is reported from Dundee) and the question if what is to happen to livestock.

South Eastern Region

In the eastern coastal districts of this Region the inhabitants are said to have “faced the possibilities of invasion for a long time; to be aware of the position, and to be frankly prepared to accept it”. The Government's statement consequently aroused only very limited comment which seems chiefly to take the form of “satisfaction that some sections of the civil population will be able to take an active part”. Though the statement is thought to be “a step in the right direction, explicit instructions would be welcome”.

Reports from the Brighton and Worthing areas refer to some “nervousness, misunderstanding and worry” arising from the distribution of the Ministry of Health evacuation leaflet among householders. This is thought by some “common-sense” people to have been “rather unfortunately worded”.

Northern Ireland

In this Region the statement is reported merely to have aroused curiosity as to whether instructions to the civil population applied without modification to Northern Ireland. The public is thought to be chiefly interested in Invasion Committees, and questions on this subject were answered by Mr. Andrews in statement to the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that, on the whole, the Government's statement aroused only slight interest. Reported comments were more often critical than approving, mainly on the grounds of the statement being “too vague”. Though many people seem doubtful of the possibility of invasion - and the majority confident of our ability to repel it - there is apparently a lively demand for more specific and immediate instructions. The order to “stand firm” seems to be generally approved.

Confusion is reported over the powers and responsibilities of Invasion Committees, on the merits of which opinion in some areas seems to be divided.

A minority of women are said to feel that they are being “kept out of things”, and thus tend to draw comparisons between their own inactive position and the part that is being played by women in Russia.