A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 13
.
For internal circulation only
(From 12 noon Tuesday 24th December to 12 noon Wednesday 1st January 1941.)
Note : The figures in brackets refer to sources of information, a list of which is given at the end of the report.
I GENERAL COMMENTS
1. General morale and reaction to news .
A few weeks ago, people were looking forward to Christmas without enthusiasm. But the realisation turned out to be better than anticipation (5x, 11h, 38). Even in blitzed Manchester, “there were Boxing Day crowds in pantomimes and cinemas” (23 Manchester T.C.), while everywhere, bomb-free nights and the generally more hopeful news of the war combined to make people feel Christmas should be enjoyed. Now they are facing the New Year optimistically; peace next Christmas is spoken of; and some are saying “the worst of the war is over” (5x, 11h, 22 Reading, Edinburgh, Glasgow P.C., 23 Special T.C.).
There was not much speculation about the Christmas “truce” (5x). Most people seemed to take it for granted, and many anticipated it (3h). Such comment as there was either compared Mussolini's Christmas bombing of Corfu with Hitler's abstention - and thought Hitler came out of it best, or speculated on what fresh devilment the Fuhrer was plotting (a new secret weapon was even hinted at). (1h, 4h, 14 Northern Ireland, 23 Bristol T.C., Inland Trunks T.C.). No one seemed to notice the inconsistency of the Boxing Day evening papers, the early editions of which spoke of a “truce in perfect bombing weather”, while later editions said “bad weather stopped all bombing”. One effect the Christmas “truce” certainly did not have, and that was to produce any weakening of the people's determination to see the war through (11h).
In Sheffield, Bristol, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester, people, for the most part, remain undaunted by the blitz (2h, 10h, 22 Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham P.C., 23 Liverpool, Inland Trunks T.C.). In Manchester, there were some doubts about “the women being able to stick it” after the second intensive raid. Many people of all classes left the city; but after two nights, the majority returned “more or less re-conditioned, but still wondering if they could stand a repetition of the raid” (10h). Portsmouth, too, was described as “a little jittery” following a terrific explosion on December 23rd, thought by the public to be due to a plane full of mines crashing in a slum district (23 Portsmouth T.C.). Anxiety about our failure to check the night bomber continues, and there is some criticism of Civil Defence organisation, though not of personnel.
There appear to be two schools of thought about the war in the Mediterranean. The one holds that Italy is now finished and will soon be completely knocked out (22 Glasgow P.C., 23 Plymouth T.C.). The other is more cautious and is anticipating some “dirty work” there by Germany before long.
Discussion of the shipping losses has diminished a little, except in sea-port towns where the dangers of their men are ever present in the minds of the townsfolk (24). Anxiety continues, and some people are afraid that the German's blockade is more effective than ours. There is some criticism of the way in which the news of the shipping losses is presented; the authorities are accused of “trying to minimise their extent and importance” (22 Manchester P.C.).
The return of Mr. Eden to the Foreign Office is popular; and it is felt that Lord Halifax is well suited to his new post. “The square peg has found its appropriate hole at last” (2h, 7h, 13h, 18, 38).
The Prime Minister's address to Italy caused delight all round. “It was a general surprise and he timed it perfectly” people said - and added that there was more in it than met the eye (4h, 14 Northern Ireland, 22 Manchester P.C.). The King's Christmas message “struck just the right note” for the majority, though informed opinion thought it too long and uninspired.
2. Reprisals .
On this subject there is little new to add. There is no diminution in the feelings of ruthlessness towards Germany as a whole (the growth of which has been recorded in these reports), and in the main people's feelings about reprisals are governed by expediency rather than humanity. They appear willing to fall in with whatever the experts think will be the most profitable line of bombing attack, but would be more than pleased if this line included the “wholesale blitzing of German towns” (3h, 5x, 6f, 10h, 22 Birmingham P.C.). In the West of Scotland, there are indications that the reprisals question is becoming a sectarian matter in the mixed Clydeside population, and this, it is thought, may lead to trouble (11h).
3. Peace aims .
The press and public continue to ask for a definition of our peace aims. For the first time there are signs that the ordinary people are beginning to take an interest in the question of town-planning. As the acute effects of being blitzed have worn off, many Bristolians are looking forward to a new Bristol, as beautiful as the old - and without its bottle-necks (18, 23 Plymouth T.C.).
4. Rumours .
Haw Haw rumours are still common, though not as common as they have been in the last few weeks. Barnstaple was to be bombed on Christmas Day; Hitler was saving both Hull and Manchester - Hull for the invasion, Manchester for his capital. Now that the Luftwaffe has quashed the second of these, Haw Haw is said to have announced the dates of Manchester's blitz in advance (2h, 3h, 7h, 10h, 24).
The commonest rumours now appear to be stories of greatly exaggerated casualties in the blitzed towns (1h, 2h, 10h, 14 North-Western). In the Northern region, the transference of Civil Defence workers to help Manchester under the “mutual aid scheme” helped to cause exaggerated rumours, and it is suggested that the scheme should be given publicity to prevent people thinking that this transference necessarily indicates desperate damage (1h).
In the West of Scotland, there are rumours that hit-and-run landing parties are invading the French, Belgian and Dutch coasts in motor-torpedo boats, and killing any Germans they may find. In one place in Holland, no Germans are said to have been found, and the Dutch gave the visitors a rousing welcome. The landing parties are said to be formed of two battalions chosen for their physical fitness, and are said to be in training in Ayrshire and Dumbartonshire (11h).
Troops, lorry-drivers, and railwaymen are still talking very carelessly (4h, 38).
5. Extremist activities .
The Communists continue to be active, but are reported to be largely ineffective. The campaign for the People's Convention appears to be languishing a little, in spite of attempts to obtain support from Trades Unions, professional organisations, co-operative societies, churches, and young people's clubs (2h, 6f, 11h). Damage to the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, has compelled the Convention to find a new home in London (10h).
Interest in pacifist activity is still almost negligible (1h, 18).
II SPECIAL COMMENTS .
6. Air Raids .
The entire press has been concerned with the problems of fire-watching and, on the whole, has favoured an extension of civilian aid as a permanent measure. First reactions to the Home Secretary's broadcast show that people are not unwilling to face conscription, although it is hoped that voluntary response will be sufficient to meet the need; it is added that conscripted labour should be paid.
7. Food .
Reports on the food situation exceed in number those on almost every other subject. (1a, 3h, 4h, 6f, 7f, 11e, 18, 19 Eastern, South Western, 22 Manchester, Inverness P.C., 24). There are still surprisingly few grumbles, but people seem to be more preoccupied by food problems than with others which, a little while ago, were thought to be of far greater importance. Though there is a good deal of discussion about prices, shortages seem to cause even more comment. Police reports state that there have been food queues at Ashton-under-Lyne and Walsall (24).
The following foods are those of which shortages are most often reported:
The shortage of tinned milk is specially mentioned as a cause of “considerable hardship among the poorer sections of the community.” (5h)
Shortages of milk, eggs and fish are said to be accentuating the difficulties of people who are placed on a diet. (11e)
N.A.A.F.I. canteens are criticised for “the profusion of their supplies which compares unfavourably with the lack of food in many retail shops.” (3h 24)
8. Evacuation .
Complaints about evacuation are slowly declining, and some reports mention “improved relations between hosts and evacuees". (7h, 18, 23 Plymouth T.C.) But many evacuees who have been unable to face the discomforts of their situation and have returned to their homes, were probably the loudest complainers. There is no evidence that the basic problems of evacuation are yet solved.
Overcrowding is causing some concern, not only in reception areas, but in blitzed towns also where homeless families have gone to live with relatives or friends. (6f, 19 Midland).
9. Shelters .
The insanitary and generally unsatisfactory condition of certain large public shelters, which have often been referred to in these reports, has been the subject of two special articles by the Labour Correspondent of the Times, (27th, 28th December 1940). These articles fully confirm the matters to which we have previously drawn attention. (18)
There are still some reports, though fewer than in recent weeks, about shortage and dampness of shelters (3h, 5h, 22 Manchester, Carlisle P.C.). The demand for deep shelters has also slackened considerably, having been reported this week from only a few places in the Southern region. (6f) In Manchester, where there have recently been several demands, it has been decided by the authorities that no more surface shelters shall be built, and that instead basement premises will be adapted for use as shelters.
Chesterfield Information Committee reports that employees in small businesses and factories are asking for a scheme of official shelter inspection, as some of them are said to distrust the protection provided in the places where they work (3h)
10. Labour .
There has been a decided lessening of press criticism of the Government's handling of employment arrangements; comments from other sources have also declined.
Complaints have again been made about the shortage of skilled and juvenile labour in London. One of the reasons given for this is that “Evacuated children who have now reached school leaving age are trying to find employment in reception areas” (5h)
11. Transport .
There is still a good deal of concern about the unsatisfactory state of transport and particularly of passenger traffic. It is said that the free lift scheme “is not working as well as it might” in London, Birmingham and Manchester. (9h, 18, 19 N. Western, 38)
The R.I.O. Southern region reports that “Southampton wants better transport arrangements for those who work in the town but continue to sleep outside it”. It is estimated that this applies to about a quarter of the workers in this area. (6f).