A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 32
Copy No. 31
(From Wednesday, May 7th, to Wednesday, May 14th, 1941)
In reading this report, it is important to bear in mind that it does not set out to record facts , except in so far as public opinion is itself a fact. It is a record and reflection of the public's views and feelings about the war in general. Therefore, on 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. 32 - May 7th - 14th, 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 morale and the recent blitzes
It is now possible to postulate some general if tentative conclusions about the spirit of the public under the Air War. In the past months it has become increasingly noticeable that the morale of the civilian population depends more upon material factors, acutely involving their lives, than upon the ebb and flow of the events of war beyond these islands. Good or bad news produces, as it were, only ripples on the surface of morale, though these ripples may sometimes gather into an appreciable peak or trough.
The operating factors for the civilian much resemble those operating upon troops in the field. They are as follows:-
1. A secure base . It now seems certain that the way civilians stand up to continuous night raiding depends largely on their having the feeling that there is a safe refuge somewhere for themselves and their families. They are willing to put up with the discomforts and dangers of the present, if they can look ahead to a few good nights' rest in the future-just as, in the last war, the troops in the trenches could always look forward to security in “Blighty”.
In the London raids, this factor is less important than in the provincial towns. Raids on their present scale destroy only a relatively small number of London homes, and there are still millions of houses standing where the homeless can make new, if temporary “bases”. But in the smaller provincial towns (e.g. Plymouth), not only does the proportion of homeless following a series of severe blitzes exceed the capacity of the rest of the town, but the homeless themselves often do not regard the rest of the town as a “secure base”. The picture is greatly complicated by the fact that the potential “secure bases” in the countryside are already fully occupied by evacuees from London and elsewhere.
As a rough and ready guide, it can be said that whenever or wherever the civilian population is becoming short of “secure bases” as a result of enemy action, a situation dangerous to morale is arising, because the people certainly become uneasy and tend to become hopeless.
2. Fatigue A prime feature of each provincial blitz where repeated raids have occurred, has been physical fatigue. As raid succeeds raid, night after night, not only does the general population become “stunned”, but Civil Defence and other key personnel, who have day as well as night duties, decline in efficiency. This is, in the great majority of cases, a purely temporary phenomenon, and after a few nights of unbroken sleep, there is a considerable recovery. Complete recovery however, seems to take about a fortnight or three weeks.
3. “Conditioning” . Other things being equal, populations which have been subjected to gradually increasing raids take heavy raids better than those who experience a sudden heavy raid without previous “conditioning”. Familiarity breeds not contempt, but a certain philosophy. London's first heavy raid after the long lull produced a much more marked result than the second serious raid last Saturday - though in both cases the restorative services functioned well.
4. Personal blitz experiences . The sight of severe casualties or sudden death, the loss of friends or relatives, “near misses”, temporary entombment, or the loss of one's home, has a definite “unnerving” effect, often delayed for a few hours or a day - and usually temporary. This was well shown in the London hospitals last September and October: patients who came in for illnesses did not mind the raids; on the other hand, those who came in as raid casualties begged to be moved out into the country at the earliest possible moment.
5. Food In the maintenance of the morale of blitzed populations, food is of equal importance to the “secure base”. Hot cooked food is much more valuable than tea, cold bully beef and bread and butter.
The less material factors which help to determine civilian morale operate alike in raided and non-raided areas. In heavy raids, however, their importance may be suddenly exaggerated, either by concrete illustration, or by the increased sensitiveness of the blitzed population. These factors are:-
1. Belief in equality of sacrifice . As long as people believe that all classes and sections are suffering and enduring equally, they will put up with very great hardship. It is “unfairness” that people resent. This requires one qualification. There is little indignation against the “top dog” if the “under dog” sees a chance of getting even a slightly larger bone than he has at present. Thus, feeling against car owners (as “joy-riders” and “petrol wasters”) has grown as people have seen the chances of even a third-hand car fading from them. Indignation against “the unrationed rich at the Ritz” has remained within bounds while there is still an occasional “cut off the joint” at the public house.
2. Trust in leadership Leadership includes not only the Government, but also the administration - local and central, and the managerial classes generally. In badly blitzed provincial areas, the feeling that local leadership (the Local Authority) has broken down, has been a serious factor. Similarly, loss of confidence in national leadership has been engendered where the public has thought that the news was “doctored” or withheld; where local events were, to the eyes of the local inhabitants, misrepresented by official communiqués; or where the public thought there were unnecessary muddles over food.
3. Assurance of ultimate victory . Thanks to the British traditions of “always winning the last battle”, loss of confidence in ultimate victory is to be regarded as a sign of bad morale, rather than as a cause . Where there is evidence of such feelings, the underlying causes must be sought for.
4. Belief in a better world after the war . It must be admitted that a large section of the population has no such belief, yet its morale is quite sound. The question of “peace aims” only assumes importance in the public mind when there is a lull in major war events.
2. The Public's reaction to news .
A preliminary note only is possible on the reactions of the public to the news of the arrival of Hess. Amazement at what was regarded as the most astonishing event of the war was the outstanding feature. Strangers spoke to one another with animation in trains and buses on the way to work. The romantic, unexpected and comic elements of the situation alike caught the public fancy. About half the people spoken to failed to offer any explanation of Hess' behaviour. Among the rest, the most popular supposition was that Hess had fallen out with Hitler, or was afraid of “being bumped off”. A party split was commonly mentioned. A few people regarded the whole thing as a plot or trap, and feared that Hess might attempt to get back again. The majority thought he would be interned as an ordinary prisoner; a few (mainly women) feared he would be given a big house and “the best of everything”. There was speculation as to “who would rat next”, and generally speaking Hess was regarded as a harbinger of better times ahead. At the same time, there is, as yet, no clear thought about the full significance of his action. There is eagerness for an official explanation.
Already rumours are cropping up - such as that he was brought down on the way to southern Ireland, where he was to be instrumental in stirring up revolt.
Apart from the Hess news, the events making for optimism or depression have been roughly equal in number and strength. The Premier's speech in Parliament had a cheering effect, removing much of the belief that people were being kept in the dark deliberately; but this was offset by the heavier shipping losses. (With a few criticisms, the issue of figures monthly instead of weekly appears to be quite acceptable; it is, however, suggested that if news of our losses is no longer useful to the enemy after this delay, it should be possible to include some news of U boat destruction at the same time).
The rise of the toll of raiders taken by our night-fighters has been contrasted with the fact that, so far, very heavy damage has always been reported on the night when the toll was highest. Here, however, the balance was in favour of optimism, except in the worst-bombed areas. The growing belief that America will soon be in the war, with her Navy protecting our convoys, has been paired off with the equally growing belief that all our expeditions have been short of equipment, we have nothing like enough tank or anti-tank guns even now, and we cannot stand up to the Germans on land.
The idea that we were too quick for the Axis in Iraq - that for once we were on the offensive ourselves - has been seized on with much joy, after preliminary forebodings. It has given the campaign such significance that if serious reverses should be reported in the near future, the lowering of public spirits may be out of proportion to the actual losses involved. It now seems to be generally accepted without very much ill-feeling that Turkey is going to let us down, although there was some adverse comment on the fact that the Prime Minister's Anzac Day address dwelt so much on our battles against the Turks, in view of what is still called “a delicate situation”.
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5x, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 20 Inverness P.C. 23, 24)
3. The Recent Air Raids
Reports suggest that spirits in Belfast were considerably more shaken by the raids there than they would have been in an English town. This is partly because the first attack on Belfast was on a big scale, so that the people had no gradual hardening, and the Belfast civil authorities no testing period in which to discover weaknesses. There is a feeling that the civic authorities relied too much on the military, for fire fighting and “clearing up the mess”, and there is a good deal of criticism of A.R.P. personnel. Postal Censorship quotes letters stating that “out of 26 wardens, about six are left to do all the work”, and that “there were A.R.P. personnel on the refugee trains”. After the blitz of April 15/16, the Minister of Public Security urged people to return to their homes if these were undamaged; but many feel this to be a mistaken policy in view of the probability of more heavy attacks. The nightly trek from Belfast now amounts to some thousands, and officially organised evacuation is desired. Feelings of discouragement in Belfast are also attributed to the influence of southern Ireland, where the idea that we have already lost the war appears to be growing. Two extracts from Postal Censorship are typical of its general tone: “The idea of England's ultimate defeat is being thrown about here as a matter of time only” - “Everyone here thinks we have already been beaten”.
Despite the heavy raids on London on May 10th/11th, less depression is evident here than during the early part of last week. The raid on 16th April, with its severe damage, came as a shock after a comparatively quiet period; Saturday night's raid was not unexpected, on account of the full moon. The fact that it came at a week-end gave most people a chance to make up lost sleep before returning to work, and there was little outward sign of stress on Monday. The restorative services worked well. Further details of the Plymouth and Merseyside situations will be found in Appendices I and II.
(5x, 13, 20 Glasgow, Belfast P.C.'s.)
4. Reprisals
The demand for the bombing of German towns continues in Leeds, Belfast, the Bristol Region, the Inverness area, Glasgow, Reading, and Southampton; and is reported, though less strongly, from other parts of the country. It is still noticeable that on the whole the demand tends to come from people who have not themselves suffered from severe raids. Only a few people have violent feelings on this subject, and many more, while expressing themselves in favour of reprisals, are content with words and not action: thus Mass Observation reports, in the Kings Norton by-election enquiry, that 37% of the voters favoured reprisals, with 23% against, and 40% with no opinion. But the Reprisals candidate forfeited his deposit, polling 1,696 votes, against 21,573 of the Conservative candidate.
(2, 4, 6, 9, 13, 20 Bristol, Inverness, Glasgow P.C., 23)
5. Rumours
There have been rather more rumours this week, to which Hess is already adding his quota, Haw Haw rumours are reported from Tunbridge Wells, Barrow-in-Furness and Oxford. Casualty figures were greatly exaggerated in many districts. From North Ireland and Wales come rumours that Liverpool was completely gutted after the last raid; epidemics were raging because the sewage system was damaged, and the military had been called in to take charge of the town. In Manchester, the Merseyside raids were attributed to the arrival of the “biggest convoy ever”.
Another variant has appeared of the story that we do not bomb the Rumanian oil wells because British capital is behind them. This is that the R.A.F. have the exact position of an important dam in Italy, supplying the electricity for many war-factories, but that this is spared for the same reason.
Yet another variation on an old theme is the story of a mysterious red fluid dropped from our own planes during practice. This fluid is said to be indelible.
A story of “explosive fountain-pens”, dropped by the enemy, caused considerable excitement in Belfast.
6. Broadcasting
There are still many reports of increased listening to enemy broadcasts, because of the scarcity of information in our own news services. It is, however, impossible to discover the actual volume of Haw Haw listening; many reported cases may be merely garbled versions of what other people say he said.
A good deal of indignation still exists about the reticence of British communiqués. A small minority felt that it was not reassuring to learn that the Government was not much better informed than the public about what was happening in Greece during the evacuation.
(2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13)
7. Conditions in Wales
The suggestion that a booklet, “Growth of the Empire Commonwealth”, should be distributed throughout Wales, as well as in England and Scotland, drew the objection that it would only increase the opinion, in Welsh-speaking areas, that justice was not being done to this part of the Empire. It appears that any stressing of the consideration received by other distinct national cultures within the Commonwealth would lead to unfortunate contrasts with the grievances of Wales. Among these are the facts that Welshmen cannot give evidence in their own language in the Courts of Law in their own country, and that conscripted Welshmen are scattered among the regiments of Scotland and England, while the Welsh regiments are filled with other nationalities. Dislike is also expressed for the idea of Welsh children being evacuated outside Wales, away from their country traditions, when the rural areas of Wales have expressed their readiness to receive them. There is reason to suppose that these views are held only by a minority.
(14 Wales, 34).
II SPECIAL COMMENTS
8. Special Raid Problems
War Damage Act : Little interest in this Act is reported, but it is stated that men are asking what will happen when they are called up and are unable to continue the payments of their premiums.
Funerals of air raid victims : Detailed evidence has been received in connection with the funerals of air raid victims, in which reference is made to “one of the most unconscionable ramps”. The close relatives are usually too stunned with grief to bargain with the undertaker, but in one case where a distant relation took a firm line, the estimate of 35 guineas was promptly reduced to 22 guineas.
Another form of “funeral ramp” is believed to be prevalent, though this is impossible to prove. If the relatives of an insured person agree to use the undertaking service of the insurance company, the insurance is paid within a few days. This “service” invariably costs almost exactly the amount of the insurance. But if the relatives go to an independent undertaker there is sometimes a delay of three or four weeks before the payment is made.
(1, 5x).
9. Registration of Women
A well-qualified authority suggests that in many cases the objection to the girls' being sent away from home comes not from the girls themselves, but from the parents. Various reasons are mentioned:-
(1) If the girls are away from home, they might not contribute to the family budget;
(2) The husbands are often out in the evenings, and the mothers would be very lonely if their daughters were away;
(3) In many cases a fear and a prejudice on the part of the parents which they found it very difficult to explain.
From the same source, comes the suggestion that propaganda should be directed at the parents to make them see the importance of their girls doing war work. It is added that compulsion as to staying in the same job should not be stressed, as this evidently causes some apprehension.
It is reported that there are complaints from girls who registered recently for National Service, that they were given no choice of jobs, but were told that they must go where they were needed. Young women registering for National Service are described as still dreading being sent to munition factories. “They seem to think the work would be very heavy and dangerous”.
(20, 34).
10. Food
There are many complaints about the unequal distribution of unrationed foodstuffs, particularly in country districts, and an increased demand for all-round rationing so as to avoid unfairness. The rationing of sweets is suggested.
The high price of fish continues to be a subject of numerous complaints, particularly from the poorer classes. The shortage of eggs in London also continues to cause much comment, particularly as it is felt that there are plenty of eggs in the country and that it is the distribution that is at fault.
Workers in one factory canteen expressed annoyance at Major Lloyd George's recent speech. There is still a feeling of unfairness in regard to restaurant meals. The workers contrasted their own canteen with its two meatless days a week. Dissatisfaction continues to be reported among the poorer classes in other areas concerning the supply of rationed goods in hotels and restaurants. The Ministry of Food are agreed to take more drastic action about the milkless day, which continues to cause a good deal of annoyance.
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5x, 6, 8, 20, 30).
11. Tobacco
The shortage of tobacco continues, and the extension of rationing to cover cigarettes is a common plea in one region.
(2, 9)
12. Evacuation
Evacuation continues to be a chronic sore, exacerbated as each new provincial blitz adds to the difficulties in the reception areas. The old and infirm, and the “under-fives” still constitute an unsolved problem. It is reported that even those old people who are willing to go into country institutions are held up through lack of accommodation.
The high rents charged in the safe areas up and down the country are the subject of a good deal of discussion, and it is reported that in Northern Ireland evacuees from Belfast are being charged as much as 12/6 a week to sleep on the floors of farmhouses. “Fabulous prices” are mentioned as being charged in the Portsmouth and Plymouth areas. There is a suggestion that there should be a fixed scale of rents throughout the country.
(5x, 20 Portsmouth P.C., 21, 34)
Home Intelligence.