A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46

231 232 2 233 3 234 4

SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 22 .
Copy No. 32

(From Wednesday, February 26th to Wednesday, March 5th, 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 .

This week the main feature has been a considerable rise in the volume of public comment on foreign affairs, and this follows closely the lines of press comment. At the same time, interest in the prospect of invasion has declined slightly. An increasing number of people now think invasion unlikely to occur this year. This view has arisen largely because of events in the Balkans. It is thought that a major German offensive against Greece, Yugo-Slavia and Turkey is likely at any moment, and that Hitler will not risk war on two fronts at the same time. Further, it is suspected that the collapse of Italy in Africa has upset Hitler's plans, and that he will now concentrate on intensifying his blockade of Britain by air and submarine attack on our shipping, and by air attack on our ports. Invasion is beginning to be regarded as only likely after a successful blockade, or as a desperate fling when the blockade has failed. If it comes (and people are now less inclined to say “when it comes”), there is still general confidence that it will fail. Enquiries about what to do if it does come have also declined.

As far as enemy activities are concerned, interest in the Balkans is steadily increasing. Mr. Eden's visit to Turkey has done much to remove the doubts, noted last week, about her determination to resist. On the other hand, the chances of Greece and Yugo-Slavia against the Luftwaffe and the Reichswehr are thought to be small - some giving them only a few days. These possibilities are discussed without anxiety.

The relative freedom of London from raids is attributed by some people to improved defences on the outskirts. The ripples of the Hendon bomb and the London Bridge railway arches disaster continue to spread. There are tales of phenomenal numbers killed by the Hendon bomb; it was “a new and horrible type”; it was incandescent; it took a very long time to fall; and it made a noise “like a motor-car gone wrong”. The arches disaster has produced a decline in the popularity of railway arch shelters generally, and questions about why the government allows them to be used. In other regions, where blitzes are regarded as routine, their absence in weather which is apparently good for flying is causing surprise, speculation, and even a trace of anxiety. Further reports on the Swansea blitzes echo the experiences of the other blitzed towns. “An ounce of practical help is worth a pound of comforting words”, says an observer. Mr. Malcolm Smith's broadcast describing the cheerful feelings of Cardiff - and even of the relatives of the dead - created serious indignation throughout the city. The appearance of Swansea refugees in the more remote parts of West Wales brought the real nature of the war home to the country people for the first time. Elsewhere in Wales it was rumoured that it had been necessary to call out the military “to keep order” in Swansea.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5x, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20 North Western, Inverness, Bristol P.C.s., 17, 25).

2. Broadcasting .

Mr. Priestley's latest postscript on “New Men” has restored his popularity. His talks on “Communal Feeding” and “Musings in a Railway Train” were less liked. “New Men” was particularly welcomed by those who remembered the toll of the best of the young generation in the last war.

(5x, 18, 23, 25, 34).

3. Peace Aims .

Once more, interest in peace aims appears to be increasing, both among the general public and among men in the services. The following generalisations emerge:-

1. There is an absence of thought along conventional party lines. Political slogans, whether right or left, are little spoken of.

2. The main cleavege is not between class and class, but between the young and the old. Older people remember the unemployment and chaos after the last war, and fear a repetition. Younger people are, however, determined that the post-war economic upset “must not, and will not, happen again”.

3. On the home front, it is hoped that the extremes of wealth and poverty will be swept away, that there will be a greater degree of social security for all, and that what is loosely termed “privilege” will also be got rid of though many expect that “privilege” will put up a stern fight.

4. In the international sphere, the only clearly defined attitude is that there must be no repetition of German aggression. A majority favour a severe peace, some think in terms of international confederation, and there is only unanimity on the point that half measures either way are useless.

(5x, 6, 17, 20 Inverness P.C., 25).

4. Rumours .

The only fresh rumour worth noting is that the Germans have a new gas in the form of flakes; respirators are said not to protect against this, unless a wet sock is tied over the filter. This rumour appears to have arisen from a misunderstanding of certain fire-fighting instructions.

Other old rumours which are once more in circulation are:-

1. The blitzing of towns where the Chaplin film “The Great Dictator” is shown.

2. Foot-and-mouth disease is spread by hooves of infected animals dropped from planes.

3. Eire is about to be, or has been, invaded.

4. We are about to invade Italy “via its toe”.

(5, 5x, 7, 8, 20 North Western P.C. 34).

II SPECIAL COMMENTS

5. Fire-watching

There is still some confusion and uncertainty about the liabilities of those who have to organise fire-watchers. Doubts are expressed also about the efficiency of the voluntary system, and in some places the scheme is held up by lack of man-power; civil defence workers in other branches of A.R.P. are therefore being asked to do this work in addition to their other duties. It appears that under Section 3G of the Fire-Watchers Order no one is exempt from watching unless they have already undertaken to do at least 48 hours civil defence duty a month. Many people are doing much more without having signed this undertaking; and so in Dundee, for instance, part-time special constables are being asked to become fire-watchers at their places of employment.

Some people, though willing to watch if asked by local authorities, are reluctant to do so for their employers because so little attention is paid to their conditions. In certain cases a lack of feeding arrangements is said to hamper the scheme, and it is suggested that “a mobile canteen system would be useful for covering business premises where there are no canteen facilities.” Fire-watchers feel, too, that they should be entitled to the same extra rations as the Home Guard, with whom they often work.

(2, 3, 4, 5x, 11, 17, 18 North Western).

6. Gas .

Although the expectation of gas appears from our reports to be increasing, the number of people carrying respirators has not risen. There are more suggestions that the practice should be made compulsory for everyone; alternatively, it is said that compulsion should at least be applied to factory and office workers, and to cinema-goers.

In the South Eastern Region it is rumoured that at certain places “local authorities will release tear gas in the main streets without warning, so as to teach the people always to carry their masks”.

(1, 4, 9, 11, 12, 17, 18 North Western).

7. Shelters

Criticism of shelters is still declining. On the whole, complaints are now few, and conditions continue to improve. Local authorities in the South Western and North Western regions are said to be alarmed by the dangerous conditions of some public shelters, and there is still much distrust of the brick surface type. There are also protests in the North Western region about the improper use of certain public shelters. Apart from this, however, there has been very little comment on the subject.

(5x, 17, 18 Western, North Western, 34).

8. Food .

The chief complaints continue to be:-

1. Maldistribution which is still given as the cause for many shortages. The distribution of unrationed foods in reception areas is said to bring hardship to residents and evacuees. There are many suggestions that food should be diverted from evacuation to reception areas. The free movement of self-evacuees is blamed for difficult conditions.

2. Inadequate rations for workers in heavy industries and [Text Missing] the land. The difficulty in getting unrationed feeds like cheese and eggs aggravates the situation where these workers are in the habit of eating “packed” meals. It is suggested that cheese should be reserved for these workers.

3. The use of ordinary shops by Service personnel , as well as N.A.A.F.I. Canteens. It is suggested that restriction should be placed on purchases from shops.

4. Shopping habits .

The various methods for obtaining extra supplies of unrationed foods continue to be criticised. Shopping hours still present grave difficulties for women workers. (An enterprising firm in the Midlands, recognising this problem, has begun “a shopping time rota” by means of which every housewife employed has a shopping morning every seventh day.)

(15, 16, 18, 34)

9. Evacuation

Conditions in reception areas (except for the food situation) continue to improve.

Suggestions are made that “evacuees should be conscripted for war work”.

Evacuation from Bristol has had a poor response. From a total of 27,000 children whom it was hoped to evacuate, only 7,000 have been arranged for as a first consignment.

(18 North Western, 34).

10. Labour

There is some concern expressed among women about the “conscription of labour” and reports state that a “a clear Government policy” would be appreciated.

There is little sign that women of the middle classes without previous experience of paid work are considering taking steps to become employed.

(11, 12, 15, 34).

11. Transport

There are still many complaints about transport by rail and bus.

In the Northern Region the unpopularity of the Railway Companies is stated to be growing steadily, first because the companies are accused of making little effort to overcome dislocations in passenger services, and secondly, because of the increased dividends recently announced. It is interesting that a B.I.P.O. Survey conducted in January shows that 34% attributed the rise in fares to the railways taking advantage of the situation.

(1, 17).

HOME INTELLIGENCE

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & Cookie Policy Accept & Close