A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
.
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 36
Copy No. 32
(From Wednesday, June 4th to Wednesday, June 11th, 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. 36 - June 4th to June 11th, 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 .
(N.B.: No reports on the state of public feeling have been received since the Parliamentary debate on Crete).
The most striking feature of public feeling during the week has been a decline in expressed confidence in the Government - both national and local. The trigger which fired off this feeling was the evacuation of Crete, and the events leading up to it; but the loss of confidence does not confine itself altogether to those responsible for actual Service operations. On the Home Front, and in the sphere of Local Government, there are many who say that more should be done than is being done. There are, too, reports of an increasing separation between the leaders and the led. In particular, there is a growing number of people who say that speeches, however good, are not enough. Nevertheless, all available evidence goes to show that the country as a whole is still steadily behind the Prime Minister's leadership, and determined to “see the war through”.
On the subject of the Battle of Crete, public feeling has changed since last week. Then, although there was no surprise, and consequently no shock at the news of evacuation, people were still too close to events to apportion blame in detail. Now there is anger as well as apprehension; the main line of criticism is that “we were seven months in the island; what were we doing? Why were our airfields not properly defended?” (It is noticeable that this criticism is voiced in almost identical words from district after district.) More particularly, there are requests that fullest information should at once be given as to why it was impossible to render our airfields useless to the Germans before the evacuation.
The view seems to be widely held that evacuation was forced on us “through lack of foresight and initiative, rather than the superiority of the enemy”. Acute concern is expressed lest we are far behind Germany in our actual war technique. The alleged inadequacy of our preparations to defend Crete is compared with “the rapid re-conditioning of the Greek airfields and their effectiveness when in German hands”. A feeling exists that “someone has blundered, and that air co-operation with the other Services requires careful consideration and re-organisation.” It is also said that the separation of Army and Air Force Commands was much to blame for what is described as “the disaster”.
There is now some dissatisfaction at the manner in which the news of the Battle of Crete was given out. “Communiqués have been found irritating, particularly the excuses, and the minimising of Crete's importance”. The public is said to be “increasingly critical of optimistic official spokesmen who have persistently under-estimated our dangers”.
In the earlier part of the week the anger and distress over Crete were frequently coupled with expressions of fear lest we should be “too late again” in Syria. There is great satisfaction that we have taken the initiative. Anti-French feeling, which was rising sharply, is held in suspense until it is known whether there will be strong opposition from the French Colonial troops. Hopes are expressed that many may desert to the side of de Gaulle.
Markedly different reactions to our reverse in Crete are found among two special sections of the community:-
1. The more mentally energetic people tend to think that our national energies are not yet fully engaged in the war effort. They call for a drive in production, and for strengthened appeals to the patriotism of the workers.
2. Factory workers, housewives, and those with relatives who have been in the various evacuations etc., are said to take less and less interest in war news of any kind. “It is becoming increasingly difficult to arouse them to any urgency, or to re-stimulate them to effort. The effects of appeals, slogans, broadcasts, headlines, is becoming slighter.” There is evidence too that among them “there is growing the idea that we are fundamentally inefficient, as opposed to Germany's efficiency.”
Talk on the lines of “What have we got to lose if Hitler comes”? is reported less among the working classes than among the middle-class and the small capitalist. It has been suggested that the B.B.C. should again devote some of its propaganda talks to those who still feel that a Fascist regime “would safeguard a small bank balance”. In this connection, there is much praise for W.J. Brown's recent broadcasts.
Invasion is again a very live subject of discussion. In mid-May, according to Mass Observation figures, only 19% of a London sample expected invasion. This figure had risen to 39% by the beginning of June, and there are indications that the figure is still rising. Unshaken confidence remains, however, in the strength and courage of the R.A.F.; those who believe invasion is coming, but take an optimistic view of the outcome, base their faith on the result of the Battle of Britain last September. “We beat them then; we can do it again as long as we've got the airfields”. On the other hand R.I.O Cambridge reports “growing lack of confidence in the ability of the Army to withstand invasion”, and specific considerable concern over alleged apathy and deficiencies in the Home Guard.
After dying down, the interest in Hess has re-awakened, apparently because the public statement has not been given. Disappointment is expressed that not even a photograph of him in England has yet been published, and various rumours are once more circulating. Some capital is being made of this by the Communist party, and on the part of the general public there appears to be a certain amount of feeling that “the Hess business has been bungled”.
(1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 20 Inverness, Manchester, P.C's, 23. 34)
2. The Treatment of News .
The public takes strong exception to certain methods of treating news, and to particular phrases which are apt to occur in official communiqués and the utterances of Government spokesmen:-
1. “Adjusting our positions” is taken as synonymous with retreat.
2. “Retiring to prepared positions” is interpreted as retiring to positions which will shortly have to be vacated.
3. “Strategic withdrawal” is regarded as retreat with the abandonment of equipment.
4. “We will fight to the death”, or “we will hold at all costs” is held to imply probable withdrawal with great sacrifice.
5. “The enemy is sustaining heavy casualties” is taken to mean that in spite of this he is advancing.
6. The fact that our bombs produce fires, columns of smoke, and the upset of lorries is now fully realised by the public, and the constant reports of these trivia produce irritation and cynical comment rather than satisfaction.
7. There is doubt as to the meaning of the word “successful”. Thus, during the battle of Crete there were frequent references to the “successful” bombing of Crete aerodromes. The public asks why it was possible for the Germans to continue using these successfully bombed bases.
8. The constant repetition, in slightly different guises, of a single piece of good news - in an apparent attempt to offset it against a larger volume of bad news - causes great irritation. In particular, the many and various accounts of the sinking of the Bismarck which “covered” the bad news from Crete caused considerable feeling.
(5, 8, 20 Inverness P.C., 34).
3. Rumour
Rumours this week have not been numerous.
There is a belief that balloon barrages are an indication to the enemy of the presence of a target town, and may, therefore, be more danger than they are worth. In support of this it is suggested that Leeds, “the only sizeable town without a barrage” is one of the few towns of any consequence which have not been very heavily raided. Minor rumours deal with the imminence of various new forms of rationing, particularly soap. Haw Haw is said to have promised “a serious raid on London this week”. Ipswich and Southend have both been reported “about to be evacuated entirely”.
(2, 4, 23, 34).
II SPECIAL COMMENTS
4. Clothes Rationing Scheme
General reactions to the scheme continue favourable. The only criticism of the scheme as a whole comes from Northern Ireland, where it seems to be strongly opposed on general grounds, and also because it is feared that it will have an unfavourable effect on trade with Eire.
There has been considerable praise for the way in which the secret was kept, and for the fact that the announcement was made on a Sunday. The scheme has given people something of immediate personal interest on which to focus their attention, and they seem to have been glad of an opportunity to exercise humour, ingenuity and speculation.
This general expression of approval has not prevented a tendency for people to think of themselves as belonging to some category which merits special concessions. It is widely considered, for example, that some allowance should be made in connection with certain occupations which make a heavy demand on clothes, or which require special clothing. Nurses are particularly mentioned. Overalls are thought to be too highly rated, as they are required in a great number of occupations. Doctors and medical students working in hospitals have to provide themselves with white coats, and in many factories and shops overalls are issued to employees free, or at much reduced rates; yet it is claimed that in all these cases the use of overalls does not mean that the wearers need to buy fewer clothes than other people. It is particularly hoped that the W.V.S. will not be supplied with uniforms coupon-free, unless all occupational clothing and civil uniforms are also to be obtained in the same way.
It is asked that special concessions should be granted for trousseaux, layettes, maternity wear, mourning, clothes lost in the laundry, and particularly for children's shoes which wear out, or are grown out of, so rapidly.
One point, it is believed, will cause great hardship. If a woman can afford to buy ready-made clothes for an infant she can do so without coupons; but if she makes them herself, while expecting the child, she must use her own coupons to buy wool, flannel and other materials.
The question of second-hand clothes is felt to be full of difficulties and to present opportunities for evasion and dishonesty. It is feared that stocks of new clothes which remain unsold in the shops will be dumped on second-hand shops, after being sprayed with a little scent or camphor, and sold without coupons.
It is said that many poor people never buy new clothes at all. After a time the second-hand stocks may become exhausted owing to people making their clothes last longer, and the poor who rely on second-hand shops will suffer.
Several methods of evading the payment of coupons are mentioned as being possible, or already in operation, particularly in connection with the fact that soft furnishing material by the yard needs coupons, but that made-up curtains (a term that can be very loosely interpreted) do not. A scarf needs two coupons, but with a few stitches it can be transformed into a hat and sold coupon-free.
Many difficulties are prophesied for the shops, and in particular it is felt that present stocks of light summer clothes will not be much in demand as women will save their coupons for winter buying; as a result the shops will be very short of coupons with which to obtain their winter stocks.
A considerable amount of the knitting that is done in air-raid shelters, wardens' posts, ambulance depots etc., has the effect of calming nerves and occupies the many idle hours which have to be passed in strained and uncomfortable circumstances, often in a bad light. It is suggested that if the supply of knitting wool is cut, the greater part of this soothing and useful activity will be at an end.
(2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 23, 24, 34).
5. Food .
Queues : The question of growing food queues is reported to be causing much “unrest and discontent”. Considerable evidence has been received to suggest that queues are becoming more frequent, and more widespread, and that they are being formed for a far greater number of commodities than before. There are queues for saccharine, cakes, sweets, biscuits, eggs, sausages, cooked meats, dog and cat food, and tobacco, and for rationed goods such as butter and meat. In one place they are said to start at seven in the morning.
There is a feeling that “food queues are unnecessary, and reflect Government and other inefficiency”; some people express “disgust” at seeing them, as a “reflection on national prosperity”; indeed queues seem to cause more annoyance to those who see them than to those who stand in them. For a number of people, mainly women, standing in a queue has become a “war-time sport”, and there are still reports of people who join queues without knowing what they are for.
Besides the general reduction of supplies, various causes for queues are suggested:-
1. Increased population (evacuees, billeted troops, etc.) with no pro-rata increase of supplies. It is suggested, for example, that in Cambridge, “where there are well over 5,000 official evacuees alone”, shops are still only receiving what was their quota in March, 1940.
2. Diminution of supplies generally available to public because of early morning purchases by evacuees, leisured women, etc.
3. The habit of some shop-keepers not to open till a long queue has formed and then to do all the day's business in a few hours and close early to let the assistants go home.
The main result of queues is that only those who have plenty of time on their hands derive any benefit from them, while war-workers, mothers with babies, and the old and infirm are unable to compete. A typical case is that of a bus-conductress who works 8 to 10 hours a day and has her house-work to do, and asks how she is to feed her children.
Absenteeism is another widespread result, and it is stated that “full-time war-workers and part-time Civil Defence workers are apparently so discouraged by their catering difficulties that some of them have had to resort to housekeeping as a full-time job and give up their war work”.
(2, 3, 4, 5x, 6, 7, 9, 20 Manchester P.C., 23, 24, 34).
Other Food Difficulties : The demand for an extension of rationing continues. People are still hoping that if any more oranges become available, they should be distributed to children through the milk-in-schools scheme, and to hospitals. There are some questions as to how it is that, if shipping space really is so precious, parcels of food from America can be sent to individuals in this country; it is asked why this food should not be pooled, and it is pointed out that most of this is sent to people who can already afford to buy luxury foods.
There is still a strong feeling that agricultural and farm labourers are unfairly placed as regards food. It is thought that “they suffer from isolation, are denied assistance by employers, and are yet expected to do a day's work on the minimum amount of food”. They are not, moreover, in a position to avail themselves of canteens or communal feeding.
Complaints continue that canteens catering for the troops are often “full of chocolate and slab cake”. The legend of the Army wasting masses of food dies hard, and it is pointed out that soldiers get four square meals a day. Children are still considered to have first claim on any available sweetstuffs.
It is said that in many country districts the cafes and tea shops are full of soldiers, even in the mornings, consuming the supplies of cake, sweets and cigarettes intended for the civilian population; and it has even been suggested that such places should be put out of bounds for the Forces till late afternoon so that the public, who do not have access to canteens, may have better opportunities.
(5, 12, 20 Glasgow P.C., 18)
6. Evacuation
There is a good deal of comment this week on mothers taking their children back to badly bombed places like Bristol and Liverpool soon after they have been evacuated. It is asked “why public money should be spent on taking them to safety when they are allowed to return for no good reason”. Although there are many cases in which the children themselves want to return, because the country is so quiet (and even “because of the sweet shortage”) the mothers are generally blamed.
Overcrowding is reported from many places - among them Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Canvey Island. Bombed-out people from Plymouth complain of bad conditions in halls where they are accommodated, and huts in the neighbourhood of Petersfield in which refugees are living have been severely criticised. The situation is said to call for “a more comprehensive and constructive treatment of the evacuee question”. Complaints about scabies continue to be widely reported from one Region.
The question is again raised of large country houses which have either no evacuees or too few. The position of the billeting officer in country districts is said to be a peculiarly difficult one. To do his work properly he should be an established resident and know the locality intimately; yet if he uses his powers of compulsion he becomes extremely unpopular and is faced with the problem of “living it down afterwards”.
There are still reports, particularly from Blackpool, of excessive charges being made to evacuees and workers now that the holiday season has begun, and of evacuees being turned out to make way for people who are prepared to pay more for the rooms.
(4, 6, 7, 20 Manchester, Inverness P.C.'s, 34).
7. Coal .
It is suggested that the bad summer is accentuating complaints about the coal situation; reports of shortage continue, particularly from the Birmingham district, where coal is to be rationed, from Rugby where the position is described as serious, and from the North of Scotland. In one Region it is said to be “a long time indeed since a grumble has been so sustained and widespread”. The shortage is described as being particularly puzzling for people in the Midlands where there are so many pits.
It is claimed that thousands of miners need to be brought back into the Yorkshire coalfields to make good the present shortage and build up stocks. Absenteeism is said to be causing an “avoidable loss of 2½ million tons a year” in Yorkshire alone.
One report says that miners are excusing absenteeism on the grounds that their meat ration is entirely inadequate to give the necessary stamina.
(2, 6, 9, 18, 20 Aberdeen P.C.).
8. Labour
There seems to be a feeling among middle-aged women, and particularly among those of the professional classes, that there is no demand for their services; they have great difficulty in getting employment. The impression is that the Labour Exchange officials are more interested in their birth certificates than in any qualifications they may have. At the same time there is a great shortage of female staff in the large stores, and it has been suggested that the solution of the labour problem for middle-aged women might be found if it could be represented to them that it is a form of war-work to take the place of younger and more active women who are leaving to make munitons.
The feeling persists that we are not making sufficient use of foreign refugees, particularly professional people.
(5, 34).
9. The Rat Situation
In spite of the fact that there is little public interest or concern on the subject of rats there is some evidence that the rat situation is fairly serious. Rat catchers are not reserved. Before the war, there were very few of them and their number is decreasing. Local Authorities have great difficulty in dealing with the rat problem; in Bristol, for example, they have appealed to the Regional Commissioner for help. It is suggested from several areas that administrative action rather than publicity is needed for dealing with the main aspects of the rat situation, and that, until local authorities are in a position to take effective action, publicity will do little to help. Rat weeks are sometimes described as excuses for doing nothing during the remaining fifty-one weeks of the year. At the same time, there are some requests from rural areas for more guidance for farmers. The situation with regard to rat-destroying agents is complicated because red squill, the standard rat poison, comes from Algiers and is now unobtainable.
In urban areas subjected to heavy raids, the number of rats seen about has increased. High explosive bombs kill rats, whereas fires due to incendiaries tend to drive them to new homes, so that the increase may be apparent rather than real. At Bristol, the situation has been serious because of a large amount of contaminated food which was not worth salvaging from damaged warehouses; these stores have provided both food and breeding grounds. In several urban areas, an increase in mice is reported, and this is attributed to blitzing of mouse-infested houses.
In rural areas, rats continue to be a serious problem, particularly rick infestations, though there is little evidence of an increase in numbers. In some parts, a decrease is reported since the recent drive. There are fears that new rural food stores may soon become infested.
(5x, 14, Nottingham, Cambridge, Bristol, 23, 34).