A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 49
Copy No. 29
(From Wednesday 3rd September to Wednesday 10th September, 1941)
In reading this report, it is important to bear in mind that it is not meant to be a record of facts , except in so far as public opinion is itself a fact. It is a statement and reflection of the public's views and feelings about the war in general. Therefore, in matters on which public opinion is ill-informed, prejudiced or inconsistent, the report does not imply any endorsement of the views which are expressed in it.
HOME INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY REPORT
No. 49 - September 3rd to September 10th, 1941 .
Note : The figures in brackets refer to sources of information, a list of which is given at the end of this report.
I. GENERAL COMMENTS .
1. General state of confidence and reaction to news .
(No reports have been received since the Prime Minister's Parliamentary Speech or the Spitzbergen raid).
Little change has been noticed in the attitude of the general public since last week; in the absence of sensational events, individual problems continue to occupy people's minds. A mild satisfaction, and a mild boredom are the keynotes of the picture.
On the second anniversary of the war, the consensus of opinion is that “we start the third year with immeasurably better chances of victory” - “our ability to strike back hard at Germany is greater than at any time since the war started”. All reports agree that there is no lack of confidence in the outcome of the war, but there is now little talk of it being over this year. But, although the “over-confident mood” and the “foolish sense of security so prevalent a few weeks ago” are less evident, reports of satisfaction, optimism and “absolute complacency” continue. “There is complacency about the air war, apathy over the possible use of poison gas, and no lively anticipation of a campaign in the near future which would involve our own troops”. The prospect of invasion is “cast aside as so much talk”. The low shipping losses in the Battle of the Atlantic “have been accepted almost as a matter of course”. In short, the public's “tendency to adopt the spectator's role is increasingly indicated”.
Japan's attitude has at no time evoked much comment and it is now hoped that war in the Far East may be avoided. The conclusion of the Iran episode has given considerable satisfaction, and there has been general approval for the “less gentlemanly foreign policy implied by our invasion”. There is reported, however, to have been some criticism “when the Nazi legation was not closed immediately we were in a position to do so”.
Russia : In spite of anxiety for the safety of Leningrad and Odessa, people are “now beginning to think that the Russians can easily hold their own till winter sets in”. It is hoped “that the Russians will be able to consolidate their position and be able to take the offensive when spring comes”.
Uncertainty as to the true position on the Eastern front continues; “the situation moves too fast for the public to keep up with it”. People are said to be “tired of trying to discover the truth amid the conflict of statements put out by both sides” - a further indication of a decline of interest in the news.
The “feeling that Britain should force Germany to fight on two fronts is growing in intensity”. Concern or dissatisfaction with the extent of our aid to Russia is mentioned in 8 out of 13 R.I.O's reports, and is now said to be “noticeable in quarters which until a few months ago had no use whatsoever for Russia”. The “slowness of the despatch of our mission to Moscow is widely criticised”. Colonel Moore-Brabazon's alleged comments on Russia have “strengthened the suspicion current in certain circles of the continuance, in high places, of a feeling towards the Soviets scarcely conducive to effective co-operation”. The same effect is attributed to Mr. Mackenzie King's failure to mention Russia in a “speech which has otherwise been the subject of general eulogy”.
On the subject of post-war co-operation with Russia, a minority is reported to be showing anxiety. At the other end of the scale, some people hope that “Russia will then reap the benefits of Christianity, and Britain absorb the better points of Communism”.
Dissatisfaction at our apparent inactivity is not confined to the question of aid to Russia. There is also said to be “general uneasiness because of our inaction to hasten the finish”, and an “undertone of criticism that the Government is not ‘going to it’ as whole-heartedly as it urges the nation to”. Whatever signs there may be of complacency or optimism, there is no indication of any but “hard feelings towards the enemy”; and “extreme impatience is shown at any signs of Government tolerance”. Thus, there has been some criticism of Mr. Eden for recommending the “merits of patience and the folly of haste”.
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20 Leeds P.C., 22)
2. Invasion .
September 1st, “zero hour for invasion”, is described as having passed “without note, comment or relief”.
As an index of the decline in public interest in home defence, the latest War Office Post Bag Summary shows that less than three letters a day were received from the public on this question during August, as compared with an average of 75 a day during August 1940, and 120 a day during the second week of September, 1940.
(3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 31)
3. Air raids .
On the prospects of air raids, the R.I.O., Midland Region, reports “dangerous optimism from many centres”, on the ground that the Luftwaffe is fully occupied on the Eastern Front; he suggests that this belief is “more wide-spread than would appear on the surface”. The general feeling throughout the country, however, seems to be that raids are inevitable, though there appears to be little talk about them.
Apprehension appears to be keenest in Northern Ireland. According to a recent Postal Censorship Report, 60% of writers referring to raids say that they live in dread of the sirens, and go to the hills until the “all-clear” is sounded. This fear is attributed to the lack of good shelters, very little faith being placed in the brick shelters, which have been erected. There is considerably more confidence in the Morrison shelters which have been issued.
Little public reaction followed the Hull raid on August 31st, except “a slight increase of apprehension for the Winter”; there is no apparent increase in “trekking” from the city at night. [Text Missing] Morale is said to be high in Newcastle, in spite of the intensive raid on September 1st. It is felt that Newcastle has hitherto been very lucky, and that “we'll just have to take it like the others have”. There has been criticism, however, of the failure to sound alerts in time, and of the failure of the balloon barrage to stop “accurate dive-bombing attacks”; there was also disappointment that Fighter Command were able to bring down only two of the attacking planes.
In Ramsgate, Margate and Dover there has been considerable criticism of press statements that in a recent raid on a South East town casualties were “comparatively few, only a man and a boy being killed”, when it was thought locally that 17 were killed in Margate alone. A misconception thus appears to have arisen over the town referred to in the communiqué.
In London a big increase of shelterers is reported every time we bomb Berlin; but there is no suggestion that we should stop doing so.
Apathy concerning the possible use of poison gas is such that “a person carrying a gas mask is now regarded as conspicuous”, and warnings to be prepared for gas attacks are now “merely regarded as ‘pep talks’”.
(1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 14 North Eastern, 20 Special P.C., 22)
4. Opinion about the U.S.A.
“Thanks to clarifying broadcasts and newspaper articles”, there appears to be less criticism of delays in U.S. aid to Britain, and there is now said to be some “recognition of Roosevelt's difficulty in persuading public opinion to the point of war”. Impatience has also been off-set by the announcement of the President's forthcoming broadcast, which is raising hopes that America is “on the eve of more active participation in the war”. There are, however, said to be “instances of an undefined but persistent feeling that America is receding from active participation in the war”; and there is watchful interest concerning her possible action in regard to the “Greer” incident, which is being regarded as “almost a test case”.
A recent sample of opinion in London was asked what they thought about co-operation with America after the war, and more than 80% were in favour. There is, however, a minority who thinks it “unfair that Britons should defend democracy with their lives, while the U.S. is simply making a good thing out of the war”.
(2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 22)
5. Broadcasting .
As is usual when interest in the news declines, “broadcast news bulletins are again subjected to criticism”. There are complaints of “duplication of news, with over-lapping of items into the second day”, and of the failure to reduce the length of bulletins when there is little news. People are also said to be “sick of hearing extracts from speeches on the wireless”. There is a revival of the feeling that the B.B.C. is playing down the bad news too much.
Praise for Russian propaganda continues, together with comparisons unfavourable to our own. It is suggested that “while some of their methods are admitted to be contrary to our notions of good taste, the general opinion is that it is the wisest course to pursue in an attempt to break down German morale”.
In the following Listener Research table, based on replies from about 140 honorary Listener Correspondents, comparison is made between Miss Dorothy Thompson's Postscript and previous Postscripts by well-known Americans. It will be seen that in popularity Miss Thompson's Postcript comes second only to Mr. Quentin Reynolds' “Are you listening, Dr. Goebbels?”
(4, 7, 11, 21, 24)
6. Rumours .
Rumours are again not numerous, and follow familiar lines. “Gipsy prophecies” continue to predict the end of the war.
Other rumours are:-
1. That enquiries are being made in Bradford for fabric to meet Russian military requirements.
2. That German invasion troops will be carrying cholera infection, against which they are themselves inoculated.
3. That soldiers are massing on the Norfolk coast in readiness for a continental invasion in October.
4. That if industrial workers work at week-ends, the bulk of their earnings go in income-tax.
(1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 22)
7. Jehovah's Witnesses .
Leicester was chosen this year for a visit from this organisation. They descended on Sept. 1st and camped around and in the centre of the town.
The residents of Leicester were “seething with indignation”, as the organisation had camped in white tents during a full moon, and had cleared the restaurants and cafes of food, “like a swarm of locusts”. People were “disgusted at the thousands of pamphlets which were for sale, when there is an acute shortage of paper”. Strong criticisms were also to be heard regarding the numbers of young men of military age, and young women who should have been doing more useful work.
Complaints have also been made in many other districts, and the public appear to think that the activities of this organisation are “not as harmless as the authorities imagine, and from opinions expressed there is a feeling that their teaching should be more closely examined”.
(3)
II. SPECIAL COMMENTS .
8. Food
There is evidence from many parts of the country that this week “the situation has generally improved”; “there are fewer complaints, and even when they are made they are less gloomy than usual”. In some places this is attributed to better distribution, in others to “the increased quantities of home-grown produce on the market”.
There is some concern at Major Lloyd George's announcement that “some months ago the food situation gave rise to serious anxiety”: it is suggested that “it was not a good thing to advertise that bad news had been suppressed”. Attention has also been drawn to “the apparent inconsistency between Major Lloyd George's comments and those of Lord Woolton”, who at the time of which Major Lloyd George spoke, “was summarising the food situation as satisfactory”.
Eggs : The one outstanding complaint is the egg scheme. In the country, suppliers still say that their eggs are going stale through delays in collection, stamping and despatch: while among some town consumers “the high percentage of bad eggs is causing constant irritation; opinion is general that the egg question has been muddled”. Other town-dwellers report improvement. Queries frequently raised are:-
(1) Why cannot grain for feeding our own poultry be imported instead of eggs?
(2) (From the egg-producing areas) Why is it not possible for the egg collector to stamp in the locality the eggs required, instead of taking them all away and bringing them back when they are no longer fresh?
Milk : The general alarm occasioned by the belief that strict rationing was imminent has now died down; further announcements on the subject are found “reassuring”. Isolated comments are still heard that it has taken a long time to educate the public to drink enough liquid milk for health's sake, and it will take even longer to re-educate them to milk in powder form.
(3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
9. Registration of Women .
The feeling of the country as a whole appears to be setting still more strongly this week in favour of thorough-going conscription, with exemptions only for mothers of young children and those “with an absolutely cast-iron case for staying where they are”. “There must be no more pleading and bullying by turns” is a common view; another is: “the only way to get the decent women working contentedly is to make sure that the slackers and idlers don't escape”. It is suggested that “various voluntary organisations still give part-time workers an opportunity of masquerading as full-time patriots, and that this ought to be stopped”. It is said also that there is “very little check-up on those who have never worked before, and decide not to register”. A comb-out of certain Government offices has been suggested.
(1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
10. Service Pay and Allowances .
The “bitter resentment” on the subject of inadequate allowances for Service dependants, referred to in the last three reports, continues. The proportion of soldiers' wives and mothers forced on to public assistance is considered “one of the greatest single causes of bad morale among civilians”. This complaint continues to be mentioned in connection with the “relatively huge” wages paid to juveniles - often the younger brothers of married men of military age, so that comparisons are bound to be particularly galling to the Service families. There also appears to be considerable feeling that junior officers in the Army are insufficiently paid. (Evidence of this was collected before the announcement by Captain Margesson on September 9th of increased marriage allowances).
(2, 5, 6, 7, 32)
11. Billeting and Evacuation .
Accusations of “discrimination” on the part of billeting officers, who are thought to “leave the big houses out of it”, have again been heard in connection with the compulsory billeting of war workers. In one West Country town there is trouble over the accommodation of Irish labourers, who are said to be often drunk and disorderly; this complaint has arisen in other parts of the country, and it is urged that camps should be provided for these men, in place of private lodgings.
The return of numbers of evacuees to the target areas is once more deplored by social workers and others. It is said that Government policy encourages the return of aged people dependent on supplementary Old Age pensions, and the wives of Service men getting the London rent allowance. Unless Old Age Pensioners give up their London homes on evacuation, their supplement is withdrawn. If they relinquish their rooms, they usually have nowhere to store their furniture, which they cannot afford to move; and they will have nowhere to go if the billeting arrangement proves unsatisfactory. In order to keep their supplementary pensions, they return to London. In the case of Service wives, the 3/6 weekly London rent allowance is withdrawn automatically if they leave town, whether they give up their rooms or not. Believing that accommodation will not equal demand in London when the war is over, they often refuse to relinquish their homes when they evacuate; they cannot afford to live in the country and pay their London rent unaided, so, getting into debt, they return home with their children.
(5, 7, 32)
12. Industry .
Stories of slackness in war factories continue. It is thought that managements fail to realise that to get top production from their workers they must study their opinions as well as their output; complaints of unnecessary delays, standing off, etc., due to managerial inefficiency are said to have been “investigated, and often found to be ill-founded”. No explanation, however, has been given to the workers, with the result that the discontent caused is as serious as though the allegation had been proved.
Encouragement of workers : Appreciation is again expressed of the principle of bringing workers into contact with the results of their work, e.g. visits of coalminers to war factories dependent on coal. It has been suggested that “factory workers as well as members of the public generally would appreciate seeing films of the progress of war material from factory to forces. For instance, girls making fuses for shells; the process of filling the shell; setting it on a battleship, ramming it into the gun and then the final bursting of the shell on enemy positions or ships”.
(1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11)
13. Transport .
Inadequate bus services for war-workers in outlying districts continue to be mentioned in connection with the resentment felt at the alleged waste of petrol in private cars, and also as an important factor working against the recruitment of labour. The curtailment of public road services, while individuals can still hire cars for long-distance journeys, is being strongly criticised.
(1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
14. Clothes Rationing .
Miners want exemption from the Order obliging them to give up coupons for clothing used in carrying on their normal work. They feel that mineworkers should have the same facilities as farmworkers, who can get extra coupon-free clothing by applying to the War Agricultural Committee. (A statement announcing 60 extra coupons a year for miners was made in Parliament on September 9).
Mothers “deprecate” the present system of rationing baby clothes, and suggest 1 coupon for a bib and 1/3 coupon for a napkin - instead of, as at present, 1 coupon for three bibs, and 1 for a napkin, “which, as at least two or three dozen napkins are needed, sadly depletes their amount of coupons”.
15. Constant Complaints .
Shortages - particularly of wireless valves and H.T. batteries, kettles and saucepans, soap flakes, fuel and paraffin, tobacco and matches, beer, cereals, poultry food, tomatoes and fruit.
Complaints of the non-collection of iron-railings and scrap, of queues, of delay in shoe repairing, and of bad military driving.
Extra rations, particularly of meat, are advocated for miners.
(1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)