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SECRET .
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 23 .
Copy No. 32

(From Wednesday, March 5th to Wednesday, March 12th, 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 .

If one reviews the general feelings of the public as a whole over the past month, the following points stand out:-

1. While the great majority are certain we shall win in the end, there is less excitement and enthusiasm about the war, - and also less interest in it - than there has been for some time.

2. The reasons for this lack of enthusiasm are various:- First, people are directly affected, perhaps more than they realise, by colds, influenza, overtime work, lack of opportunity to get away, the winter, the shortages of food and other commodities, and evacuation difficulties. Secondly, there have been no sensational developments in the war at home. The blitzing of individual towns no longer affects the feelings of the country as a whole; the “horrific thrill” of Coventry is, as it were, played out. Our successes in Libya and our dangers in the Balkans are too remote to mean much to the bulk of the public; at the most they are regarded as sideshows unlikely to affect the main issue of the war, and few people consider the possible effects in neutral countries, if we fail in the Balkans. Thirdly, there is a growing conviction that invasion is becoming increasingly unlikely this year, and that attrition, by blitz and blockade, is rather to be anticipated.

3. At the same time, there are suggestions that we are not adopting a sufficiently aggressive policy. The Lofoten Islands Raid was welcomed, but many people are asking why we are not bombing the Germans in Rumania and Bulgaria, and why we are not blitzing Berlin and Rome, In the blitzed towns, in particular, where in the past talk of reprisals was limited, it is now steadily growing, concurrently with recovery from the acute shocks.

4. While the popularity of Mr. Churchill remains as great as over, there has been a falling off in the popularity of other Cabinet Ministers. In particular, it is being suggested that the Labour leaders are now less representative of the working people than they were when in opposition.

5. In the absence of any definite announcements about peace aims, an increasing number of people are recalling events after the last war, and are expecting a repetition of the miscarriages and misadventures, and there is rather less evidence of a positive and constructive attitude towards the future.

Thus, public feeling at the present time suggests a combination of complacency and boredom, with a philosophical or tired acceptance of present difficulties. There is little defeatism, but positive interest in the war is declining, especially among women, who are less well-informed about the background of the war.

Although it may be neither possible nor desirable to keep enthusiasm at concert pitch, this analysis reveals certain ill-defined weaknesses in the public temper.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5x, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 34)

2. The recent raids .

The public reaction to provincial raids has followed the well-recognised pattern of nightly evacuation, ripples of rumour, natural anxiety over furniture deteriorating in damaged houses etc. But a new feature has been a decline in Haw Haw rumours, their place being taken by a new type a rumour which attributes any blitz to a speech or a newspaper article saying how well the town was carrying on. In Swansea, a speech by the Lord Privy Seal was blamed; at Bristol, an article in the Daily Express comparing Bristol with a town bombed by the R.A.F. in Germany, led to blame being attached to Lord Beaverbrook. Fire-watching and fire-fighting, giving an active occupation during raids to a greater number of civilians, is also a new feature with a stimulating effect. At the same time, the nightly trek from the towns is depleting fire-watching ranks, and leading to other difficulties by leaving many houses empty.

The return of the heavy raiding to London, although in theory expected, was in practice an unpleasant surprise, particularly to women. Many appear to have hoped that really heavy raids on London would not again be possible. The majority took them well. Younger people who had the opportunity for civilian fire-fighting, welcomed it, and even heavily bombed areas there was no rush to evacuate. But old-age pensioners were very upset. Many had returned from evacuation areas because in the country they lost their supplementary pensions, and without them they could not afford to keep two homes going. Their reaction to the return of the blitz is “a justifiable hopelessness”. One other group was also adversely affected - the middle and upper-middle class hotel-dwelling ladies. A feeling that “they can carry on no longer” is however not a new thing in this group.

(5x, 7, 8, 14 Cardiff, 23, 34)

3. Rumours .

Rumours have not been numerous. The usual tales of excessive casualties have followed each raid, and stories of foot-and-mouth disease, this time from infected hay dropped by the enemy, are still occurring. There are rumours that certain East Coast towns are to be compulsorily evacuated forthwith. A parachutist caught near Huntingdon is said to have had over £500 on him.

(2, 7, 12, 20 Manchester, Cardiff P.C.s, 22, 34)

4. Extremist Activities .

A special Postal Censorship Report shows that “Communist influences” are appearing in certain Scottish contractors' camps. A contractor's agent is afraid that the type of workman being sent to the camps from Glasgow is likely to try to stir up trouble. Although conditions in most of the camps have been greatly improved, attempts to create dissatisfaction among the workmen continue.

Postal Censorship also reports the recent establishment of a neo-Fascist organisation called The League of Roland. Evidence suggests that this may be linked with Lord Lymington's League of Husbandry.

(20 Special P.C.)

5. Summer Time .

The decision to increase Summer Time by an hour has aroused very little discussion. Even from agricultural areas there have been fewer protests than might have been expected.

(2, 9, 14 Belfast, 18 Southern, 34)

II SPECIAL COMMENTS .

6. Air Raids .

Fire-Watching : A shortage of volunteers is still holding up arrangements in certain areas. “The requirements of the Order are thought to be rather exacting” in some cases; at Berwick, for instance, 40% of the town's population will be needed to fulfil the demands. The need for a compulsory system is being considered in Manchester, as an appeal for volunteers to form a pool for watching business premises has been a failure.

There are complaints from many districts about difficulties in getting helmets, ladders, stirrup-pumps, buckets, and other necessary equipment.

(1, 4, 10, 12, 18 N. Midland, 21 Manchester T.C.)

Gas : Comments on this subject are declining. There is still some apprehension about it being used, though apparently the carrying of respirators has not increased. One R.I.O. reports that there is “dissatisfaction with the Government's lack of clear directions”. Another says: “The belief is that if there were a real danger the Government would issue an Order to make the carrying of masks compulsory.” It appears that the issue of such an Order would make the public believe that the danger was imminent . If it failed to materialise, the public might quickly become doubtful abouts its reality (as has happened over invasion).

(4, 6, 7, 9, 17, 34.)

A.A. Defences : There has been a revival of criticism of these defences in the South Western Region. Following recent air raids at Falmouth, and on an aircraft factory at Yate, there were protests about the apparent unity of the raiders. At Falmouth sirens, balloons, and guns were said to have gone into action only after bombs had been dropped.

(14 S. Western, 15).

7. Food .

The public's interest in communal feeding is increasing. It is realised that it helps to overcome difficulties of shortages and distribution. In places where communal kitchens have been successful there have been demands for more of them, and also for more works canteens and school kitchens.

Queues are again reported in various parts of the country. A good many of these are for food used in “packed meals,” such as pork pies, cheese etc.

The main food complaints (some old, some new) this week are that:-

1. Restaurants are able to include rationed food in their menus.

2. By registering at different shops members of one family can get extra unrationed supplies.

3. Evacuees with time on their hands are able to buy more unrationed food than local residents.

4. No extra rations have yet been granted for Civil Defence or heavy workers; in addition, they ask for preferential treatment in regard to cheese, eggs, marmalade.

5. Services' personnel are getting more than their share, sometimes by “living out” with their wives and having meals also at camp or aerodrome.

6. Shortages following price control. People are asking the Ministry of Food not to control vegetables.

7. Back-door sales from food shops to “special customers” are occurring.

8. Large food shops have greater relative supplies than small ones.

Women have stated they would not mind shortages provided they knew that distribution was fair. There are complaints that country dwellers who can afford to do so are getting extra supplies from the big London stores.

It has been reported that trade rings exist which buy up food stocks from damaged shops, at salvage prices, and then sell them in other districts at retail or “monopoly” prices.

(1, 3, 6, 16, 17, 18 S. Wales, 20 Bristol, Manchester P.C., 30, 34.)

8. Trade .

Shortages and LIMOSO (Limitation of Supplies Order)

Special investigators of the Board of Trade are studying shortages throughout the country, particularly to find out the effects of LIMOSO on supplies. The results of this investigation show among other important points, that:

1. The degree of shortage varies considerably from one reception area to another; there are also shortages, of course, in neutral and evacuation areas.

2. The commonest shortages are underwear, and pots and pans.

3. There seems to be some abuse of the powers under which a Town Clerk may certify a retailer's requirements. This is said to be the result of pressure brought to bear by retail traders, who are to some extent encouraged in this by commercial travellers.

4. There are wide differences in retailers' plans for helping each other by replacing blitz-damaged stocks. This co-operation is affected by several factors; these include the amount of local expectancy or complaisance about air raids, whether competition has been fierce or friendly, and the presence or absence of a “local strong personality.”

Concentration of Factories .

The proposals by the President of the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Labour are “recognised as being inevitable and sound,” but there is some anxiety among the smaller manufacturers about “questions of goodwill” and it is felt that their position at the end of the war will be very difficult.”

Salvage

In some districts householders are discouraged from collecting their scrap because local salvage arrangements seem to be ineffective. There are sometimes not enough compartments in the dust-carts to take all the varied scrap, and piles are left beside the dustbins.

The idea that salvage is really not of much importance is also helped by the sight of uncollected metal in bombed houses and elsewhere. There is also severe criticism of the bonfires made by men clearing up raid damage.

(1, 3, 10, 21 Portsmouth T.C., 34)

Labour .

Women and Industry .

A study has been made of the reasons why more women are not working in factories. Interviews were made for five large firms (Hoover, Gillette, Kodak, Glacier Metal and Arrow Switches) with 601 housewives in their own homes. These were the results:-

1. 46.5% were unwilling to work in a factory (279).

42.7% were willing to do so, provided their problems were solved (257).

10.8% were willing to start at once if acceptable (65).

2. Of the 257 who were willing to do so if their problems were solved, the main difficulties were:

163 - children to look after

(108 had very young children or babies, 48 had children attending school, 7 had children working).

24 - family meals and housework.

19 - husband would object.

16 - would be unable to do shopping.

11 - A.R.P work.

24 - other difficulties.

3. Of the 108 women with very young children,

54 - were interested in Day Nurseries

25 - were not

29 - were undecided.

4. Thus, out of 601 women, 65 would be willing to start work at once, while 54 might be persuaded to do so if there were day nurseries for their children.

(34)

It is suggested that the employment of soldiers' wives would solve the difficulty which working women experience in finding someone to look after their children.

The unwillingness of many women to leave their home towns to work elsewhere is pointed out, and it is felt that some plan should be adopted to persuade them to do so.

(5x)

10. Evacuation .

There are still suggestions that idle evacuees should be put to some form of work.

The trickle back to evacuation areas continues. Again, the reasons given are the possibilities of invasion, and financial difficulties. An attempt to solve one of these troubles is being made by Fulham Council, which allows an evacuated family to store its furniture in one room of their vacated flat at a cost of 4/- per week. The rest of the accommodation is then let by the Council to other tenants.

(5, 10, 18 Eastern, 19)

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