A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 51
Copy No. 28
(From Wednesday September 17th to Wednesday September 24th, 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.
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Home Intelligence Weekly Report No. 51
Copy No. 291
24th September, 1941
(covering the period from 15th to 22nd September, 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
There has been a considerable drop this week in public faith in Russia's ability to maintain her resistance, and a corresponding drop in confidence about the war situation as a whole. America's announcement of convoys and “other means of safeguarding shipping”, Axis losses in the Mediterranean, and news of R.A.F. successes in daylight have all acted as cheering influences, but are heavily overshadowed by the fall of Kiev. It is reported from many sources that “a severe blow has been dealt to complacency”, and that “this week's news from the Russian theatre of war has shaken a good many people out of the belief that the Soviet forces would win the war for Britain”. In some quarters, however, apathy “towards every form of war effort” is still reported. In connection with Russia eleven out of thirteen R.I.Os. speak of “grave concern”, “growing anxiety” and even in some cases “a wave of depression”. After being noticeably absent for some weeks, doubts of Russia's ability to last out till the winter have re-arisen. There is evidence that “this anxiety has intensified the desire that we should do everything possible to aid Russia. The news that the R.A.F. wing now in Russia has been in action was warmly welcomed, as was Lord Beaverbrook's appeal for seven days tank production for the U.S.S.R.” (In connection with this appeal, it has been remarked that the approval given to it is a measure of the increasing public desire to help Russia, while help may still be effective, rather than of belief in the method chosen; there has been a good deal of “cynical comment regarding its impracticability. It is asked what is the good of pretending that samples of every variety of tank turned out during the week are going to be sent to Russia? And how are they going to get there?”)
Growing dissatisfaction is shown with the quantity and quality of the help which we have so far given our ally. Attention is again drawn to Mr. Churchill's warning about letting the countries favourable to our cause be conquered one by one, and then to the fact that this is what we are thought to be doing. Fear is expressed that we are “already too late to make an effective move in the West”, and also that we have indeed “made clear our intention to do nothing on land”. Everything which can be interpreted as a sign of dilatoriness or half-heartedness in our support is seized upon for angry criticism, notably the delay in sending our delegates to the Moscow conference, the explanation of Colonel Moore-Brabazon's speech (which has still “not been entirely accepted”), and what is described as “a lingering suspicion among working men that there are those among the ruling classes who are not displeased that Russia is taking a lot of punishment”. It is said that “faith in the seriousness of the Government's attempts to send aid to Russia has considerably lessened of late, and many people seem to feel that the present state of affairs reflects some degree of inertia or incompetence, the minority suspecting deception rather than delay”.
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 20 Bristol, Cardiff P.C.s 13.)
2. Long-term trends
During the week ending August 30th, the British Institute of Public Opinion asked the question:
“What do you think is the most important war problem the British Government must solve in the next few months?”
The sample was of the usual size and constitution. The same question had been asked on two previous occasions, and a comparison of the results, then and now, is shown below:-
The remaining answers were composed of multiple unclassifiable suggestions (e.g. the Middle East, the Far East, gaining air supremacy, coal supplies etc).
These figures reflect well the main changes in public feeling about the war in the past 9 months. Interest in invasion of this country has declined, while invasion of the Continent and help for Russia are, between them, the main focus of interest. Food is now regarded as a less serious problem than on the two previous occasions, and the same applies to submarine warfare and shipping losses. Production and manpower problems are increasingly important.
3. America
The general feeling about the U.S. appears to be that “she is already up to the waist at war, and people anxiously await news of her first catch at sea”. Confidence in the President and “his team” seems to be higher than at any previous period, partly due to “the excellent pronouncements which have recently come from America” and partly to “a growing understanding of Mr. Roosevelt's peculiar problems”, for which B.B.C. talks by American commentators are thought to be largely responsible. There is said to be less clamour for America to “come in and fight”.
(1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13)
4. “Bomb Rome”
Five R.I.Os. mention the subject of bombing Rome in connection with the Prime Minister's warning to the Axis, during the Greek campaign, that if Cairo or Athens were touched the immunity of Rome would end. It is said that “there is a very considerable demand that Rome should be bombed at once, following the attack on Cairo. The enemy have dared us to do it; Britain cannot afford to ignore the challenge”. It is felt that “the ‘heavy hand’ used on Italy would soon cause her to sue for a separate peace”. All comments were to the same effect: “Instantaneous action should be taken. A desire persists for less tenderness towards Italy, and the bombing of Rome, regardless of the presence therein of the head of the Catholic Church”. No evidence of contrary opinion has come to us since the news of the raid on Cairo.
(2, 3, 4, 7, 8)
5. Turkey
Two R.I.O's reports are to the same effect - “Signs of anxiety about Turkey are increasing. There is a widespread feeling that Germany will demand facilities for the passage of troops through the country. It is argued that Britain and Russia should act in Turkey as they acted in Iran - by getting in first”.
(7, 13)
6. News Presentation
Following on the growth of anxiety over Russia there is - as usual when bad news is recorded - a transference of criticism from the news itself to the news services. Both the B.B.C. and the newspapers have been blamed this week for “meagre news, uninspiringly presented” and for “pitiful attempts to impart a rosy complexion to grave tidings”. There is again “an insistent demand for the truth, and nothing but the truth”, and emphasis on the belief that “the Government can afford to take the people into its confidence”.
It has been noted that the fall of Kiev was accepted as a fact by many people before its announcement here, mainly because of the repeated German claims; this is held to prove that “German High Command communiques are being relied upon more and more, in much the same way as they were during May and June 1940 - to the disparagement of U.S.S.R. and our own news services”. The Home Service, in particular, is still compared unfavourably by many people with the B.B.C.'s Overseas and European Services, which are said to be “both brighter and meatier”. Appreciation has, however, been recorded of some B.B.C. activities, such as the evening Postscripts, which are thought to have been much better of late and, as already mentioned, the handling of American news and views.
(4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
7. Rumours
Again, no obvious trend can be discerned in the rumours collected this week.
The story that an edition of the Daily Herald was “banned” for printing the “news” that Mr. Churchill took Hess with him to visit President Roosevelt reappears; this time it comes from Fulham and Ruislip.
Other rumours are that:
We are the “Chosen People” to win this war, but that “after we have beaten the Germans, Russia will fight us: but something will happen so that in the end we shall come out on top”.
An attempted invasion of the East Coast of England “had been broadcast”. (This report comes from Swindon.)
Successful landings on enemy soil have been made by parachute troops, who all safely returned in speed boats. (An “Imperial Airways” pilot is quoted as the source of this rumour.)
Canadians are getting “out of control because they are bored[Text Missing]
The allocation of stainless steel for cutlery may soon be suspended.
Earl Baldwin “has fled the country and escaped to Canada”.
(2, 5, 7, 23)
II. SPECIAL COMMENTS
8. Industry
1. “Cost plus ten per cent” system . In more than one Region the “cost plus percentage system continues to be sharply criticised, particularly in working class circles, for providing no incentive to keep down expenditure, and to use manpower and material to the best advantage”. In the Loughborough area, for example, there is a widespread belief that “one of the largest works in the town keeps on many workers for whom there is not enough work, and it is alleged that workers are even encouraged to waste their time in order to make the job last. One explanation is that heavy contracts have been accepted, but that the necessary materials are not yet forthcoming. Though there is a scarcity of labour, the firm will not release its staff, fearing that they will not be available in the near future when they are needed. This is reported to have had a demoralising effect.”
Around Greenock and Gourock there is a good deal of talk about “inefficiency and slacking in the shipyards”, one particular firm mentioned being Rowan's of Port Glasgow. There is now a local wisecrack: “When have so many done so little in such a hell of a long time?”.
Although the bulk of criticism is of the managements, employers, on the other hand, complain that “they cannot get authority to implement machinery for discipling the man, even for sabotage.”
2. Growing irritability . “Competent industrial authorities and Trade Union Leaders” are said to be “genuinely apprehensive of a flare-up in heavy industries brought about by nervous exhaustion”; it is feared that this may come through some “quite trivial and indeed irrational cause”. In one Glasgow locomotive works, “Tanks for Russia” week began with a strike; in another factory “bad feeling and irritability seem to be growing”. Leading industrialists and Trade Unionists are said to be discussing how to give tired and nervously exhausted men a break with pay; the obvious device of stopping Sunday work is made difficult by the “determination of the men to cling to double pay for Sunday”.
At the Royal Ordnance Factory, Dalmuir, (formerly a Government establishment, now transferred to Beardmore's) the employees' lack of confidence in the new management is said to have reappeared, in spite of guarantees that conditions shall not be worsened. The main point of controversy still appears to be “the allegation that the factory has lost in status by being transferred from Government to private management”.
(2, 3, 6, 7, 11)
9. Registration of Women . The following points, several of which have been referred to in our previous reports, have again been noted:-
(1) There is “criticism of Government delay in announcing a clear cut policy”. “People generally are in favour of compulsion, provided it is fair and there is no evasion”.
(2) There is still a good deal of unfavourable comment about the younger middle-aged women “who appear to have time to stroll about, gazing into shop windows”. In some cases “women are reported to be boasting that they have “got out of conscription”; indignation on the part of young girls already working in war factories is said to be rising over “inequality of sacrifice”.
(3) “The time lag between voluntary offers of service and interviews is unfavourably commented upon”; young women complain that they have registered and are willing to go but are not called up, despite appeals in the paper for women recruits for the Services and for factory work.
(4) “Many more day nurseries are needed”. It is suggested that “it would be helpful if Labour Exchanges were supplied with details of factories in other parts of the country to which day nurseries are attached”. It is said that mothers who are willing to go to jobs away from their home towns cannot obtain this information.
(5) It is pointed out that though women may be willing to do war work, in most cases “they bitterly resent being sent away from their homes, especially when they know that suitable work could be found for them within reasonable daily travelling distance.”
(6) In the Birmingham district, “where the special campaign for women war workers has been magnificently supported, it has been shown that some arrangement for shopping must accompany any call on women to enter war work factories”. This necessity has previously been reported from many parts of the country.
(7) Older women, round about forty years of age, complain that they have not been offered work, after putting down their names during War Work Week; the desire of middle-aged and married women for part-time work still appears to be unassauged.
(Special attention is drawn to the Appendix to this issue which deals with factors influencing the recruitment of women in Scotland).
(1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14. Scotland)
10. Civil Defence
The public is still reported to take little interest in the new fire-watching Orders. Some apprehension is felt for the health and efficiency of workers who already have long hours of work and travel, and may now have fire-watching duties to do as well. It is felt that anything an employer might do, in the interests of output, to lessen his workers' hours of fire-watching, will be undone because those doing less than 48 hours service a month at their business premises may be required to serve elsewhere to make up that total. There is some criticism of the fact that women, or at least those not engaged on war work, have been exempted from the scheme.
In some places it is doubted whether compulsory fire-watching is going to solve the problem. Many fire-watching schemes, it is said, “work only on paper”; it is suggested that “the authorities do not appear to recognise that some buildings can only be satisfactorily guarded by able-bodied men”. There is considerable criticism that the Army, and especially its non-fighting branches, should be exempted from fire-watching and fire-fighting except in their own billets.
Among those who have been voluntary fire-watchers since the outbreak of war, such as wardens and members of street fire parties, some resentment is felt that conscripted Fire Guards will receive 3/- a night.
(1, 3, 5, 6, 10)
11. Transport
Complaints continue to be received from many parts of the country of curtailed services and overcrowding, in trains and buses, and “some form of more rigid control over travel is advocated, as well as the abolition of ‘first-class’ travel in war time”. In some areas production is said to be “adversely affected by difficulties experienced by many workers on account of inadequate transport facilities, and it is suggested that this is the real cause of absenteeism”. It is considered that “this question of transport facilities in relation to production needs urgent consideration”. The demand is steadily increasing for a ticket or badge to give priority to war workers, as is the demand for more extensive staggering of the starting and stopping hours of factories, to avoid transport bottle-necks. For the same reason staggered shop closing hours are also advocated.
(2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 16)
12. Food .
The improvement in the general food situation is fully maintained this week. Postal Censorship reports that, of those correspondents referring to food or rationing, the great majority speak with appreciation; a typical comment is: “It always amazes me when I think that we have been at war for two years and can still get the amount of food we do.” Lord Woolton's recent speeches are welcomed as having done much to show people how fortunate we are compared with other countries. The hint that the milk situation may be easier has caused some relief, but the egg distribution scheme is still widely criticised on familiar lines.
Minor sentences imposed on people who infringe food laws are being viewed with increasing disfavour.
(1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20 Leeds P.C.)
13. Agriculture
There are complaints from many districts about the transfer of skilled agricultural labourers to the Army. The scarcity of labour is said to be very acute, and in some places it is feared that there will be difficulty in getting extra ploughing done this winter.
There has been some discussion as to whether farm-labourers should work on Sundays. It is suggested that if farmers are expected to work, like those in the factories, seven days a week, pay should be the same in each case.
(2, 10, 28)
14. Evacuation
The return of evacuated children to target areas continues. Giving the figures for the whole country, the Ministry of Health reports that more than 10% of those evacuated in February, have now returned. From London alone the drift back is about 20%. The number of children evacuated to Blackpool is said to have dropped from 23,000 to 3,000 within a year, and the Blackburn Rural District Council's Billeting Officials have resigned, “disheartened”. One third of the children evacuated from Plymouth are reported to have returned. In the case of London, one of the reasons given for children being brought back is the “difference in teaching, or lack of opportunity to get scholarships in country schools”. The publicity given to the return of Lord Reith's children is regretted, “as giving the impression that he has information leading him to think they will be safe”.
(2, 5, 7, 10)
15. Service Pay and Allowances
“An immediate and substantial increase in other ranks' dependants' allowances is said to be much overdue” according to one R.I.O. It is described as “still a matter of public comment that a labourer and a labourer's dependant should be in a much better financial position than a soldier and a soldier's dependant. Such a policy disproves the doctrine of equal sacrifice and sows the seeds of serious discontent.” The rise in the cost of living is making it very difficult for dependants of men in the Forces to make both ends meet. For example, the case is quoted of a soldier's wife, with a young child, who pays 17/6d a week in rent and has 18/6d left for all her other expenses. As a result, she has to go to the Dependants' Aid Society for clothes, “which is regarded as begging”.
(2, 5, 14 Scotland)
16. Clothing
Board of Trade instructions on the manufacture of guaranteed quality cloth and standard price men's suits are said to be “baffling” Leeds wholesale clothing manufacturers.
In several coast towns “societies” engaged in knitting comforts for seamen complain that supplies of wool are running short “through Board of Trade restrictions”.
It is reported that “hundreds of people still continue to enquire at Post and Food Offices” about lost ration books, in spite of Press announcements that those in need of advice should go to Citizens Advice Bureaux. The situation is further complicated by the fact that some Bureaux have apparently not yet received the necessary forms or instructions for applicants, and this has led to “the usual criticism” of premature Government announcements.
(2, 3)
17. Constant Complaints
There is a steady demand for simpler wording of income tax forms. Demand notes received for the first time are said to be causing “a good deal of perturbation” to workers, who are “all expecting it to affect the savings groups”.
The shortage of radio spare parts, principally valves and H.T. batteries, is still reported from several Regions.
Complaints of delay in the collection of scrap iron - particularly from blitzed sites - continue. An “enormous scrap-iron dump” in one town in the Southern Region aggravates the grievance felt by property owners, who have been told that compensation for commandeered railings will amount to only 2/- or 3/- per frontage, whilst the removal of the railings “will damage walls and involve costly repairs”.
Shoppers complain of the “increasing amount of bad manners shown by shop assistants”.
Other complaints are of: shortages of coal and paraffin, matches, tobacco, and beer; wastage of petrol on pleasure trips and luxury business; uncertainty of mails from the Middle East and India; high wages paid to untrained youths; unequal allocation of evacuees - “to the advantage of the rich”; and of unsatisfactory egg distribution.
The need for more day nurseries is widely reported.
(1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)