A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 14
.
Copy No. 104
(From Wednesday 1st January to Wednesday 8th 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 .
In the general satisfaction at the news from Africa troubles and difficulties at home have assumed much smaller proportions. It is widely anticipated that the fall of Mussolini, and with him Italy, is now only a matter of time - and not a long time at that (12, 22 Inverness P.C., 6, 8, 5x, 39). There is no evidence of anxiety - even among women whose relatives are serving in the East - at the news of German aerial reinforcements for the Italians; it is suggested that the news got lost in the recent spate of Axis rumours and in the rejoicing at the advance in Africa (4, 5x, 6, 26, 39). The Times report that we were sending Italian prisoners to a “concentration camp” (sic) at Ramgarh, India, has aroused some comment (39)
Many now expect the war to be over within a year (5x, 22 Reading P.C., 39).
As usual, the greatest evidence of confidence and determination comes from London and other blitzed cities (3, 23 Manchester T.C., 5x, 22 Leeds P.C., 7, 8). In blitz-free areas, there is both greater anxiety and greater apathy. In the North-Midland region, for example, “apart from periodic bursts of interest and activity (at the moment “fire-crowing” is the subject of such a burst) there is some evidence of war-weariness, and lack of effort; personal expenditure is still very irresponsible, and young people are unwilling to form Savings Groups; farmers regard it as a “damn good” war”(3). It is suggested, too, in Scotland, that there is some over-confidence, and that people would work harder if they were a little more afraid (22 Edinburgh P.C.). Similar reports come from rural Wales (39).
The blitzed provincial towns are more and more falling into line with London. Sheffield has taken it “extremely well” (22 Leeds P.C.). Bristol anticipated further raids with its “thumbs up!” (7), and took its latest blitz with little of the dismay which followed earlier raids. “People are now reaching the stage where they get up each morning, sweep up the debris, and carry on” (14 Bristol). The recent raid on Weston-super-Mare was taken surprisingly well, for the town was full of evacuees. A few of these considered returning home, and there was a little talk of deep shelters, but no jitteriness. The general belief was that the town had been bombed by mistake for Avonmouth. Some “mischievous glee” was reported from Bristol, when those who had sought safety at Weston found that fate had overtaken them (14 Bristol).
Reports from Birmingham show that, for the first time, people are learning from blitz conditions how much they owe to those who maintain services, like water, gas, electricity and transport, which previously they had taken for granted (22 Birmingham P.C.).
In Cardiff's blitz everyone was “calm, cool and collected, and there was no panic or hysteria”. There was great admiration for the fire services (8). As usual, a statement that the essential services were not affected, was strenuously objected to, as an invitation to the Germans to return (similar indignation at reports of “little industrial damage” is noted elsewhere (14 N. Western, 23 Bristol T.C.).). In spite of the Weston-super-Mare incident, there is a widespread belief in the Cardiff area that the Germans short-wave directional service enables them to pick out towns with complete accuracy, while we have nothing of this kind and are forced to rely on the personal factor in navigation (14 Cardiff).
On the meagreness of blitz news, there are still complaints. The release of pictures of damaged Manchester buildings has added to the resentment in Salford and Stretford. Liverpool, too, thinks that its damage has been minimised (10). In Manchester, in spite of appeals to the public, sightseers have added to transport difficulties (23 Manchester T.C.).
In telephone conversations, the blitz seems to have assumed much the same level as the weather (23 Liverpool T.C.).
Discussion of invasion seems to be declining, though, in the South-Eastern region, the Home Guard are expecting to hear the bells within 2 months, and even suggest that “they can repel the invaders without help from the regular army” (12, 39).
One regional report states that Weygand is much discussed, and that he is “looked upon as a potential ally” (1)
2. Reprisals .
Other people's blitzes are still a more potent factor in causing a demand for reprisals than one's own. London's fire-raid made Portsmouth, Cardiff, and the South-East speak strongly for reprisals (8, 12, 23 Portsmouth T.C.). The raids on Mannheim and Bremen caused lively satisfaction, and Birmingham and Cardiff feel they need “bucking-up” by similar raids on Berlin (4, 8, 14 N. Ireland, 22 Birmingham P.C.). In the commentaries of news reels of London's fire-raid, revenge on Berlin was mentioned, and these remarks have been received with a fair amount of applause (39, Granada Cinemas Report). More thoughtful people deplored the tone of the remarks, which they regarded as contrary to Government policy (5x, 39).
3. Peace Aims .
With sensational war-news, discussion of peace aims tends to recede, and this week has been no exception. The weekly press continues to discuss the problem with vigour and enterprise; “Picture Post” devotes an entire number to the subject (18).
4. Rumours .
Rumours are declining, though careless talk continues (3, 4, 7). The publication of the approximate total casualties in the Manchester area has allayed the wilder exaggerations, but has been succeeded by a story that women baled out of German planes brought down in the Manchester blitz (10, 26). The instructions to Civil Defence workers about the exploding incendiaries have led to some rumours in the South-Eastern region that all incendiaries are now too dangerous to handle and are best left alone (12).
A rumour originating apparently in Ireland is that Frank Phillips the announcer has got 10 years imprisonment for conveying information to the enemy through his intonation (22 Reading P.C., 23 Special T.C.).
Rumours of invasion rehearsals come from Ross-shire, and fears are expressed that we may lose many men by drowning, as the authorities are said to be putting 11 men into collapsible boats made for 8 only (22 Inverness P.C.).
5. Northern Ireland .
Anticipation of a blitz on Belfast is growing, and civil defence preparations are greatly increasing. The news of England blitz is making people wonder how long the great cities can stand this treatment. Invasion in the spring is widely expected, and Eire is considered a likely site for attack. It is suggested that the bombing of Eire was a test of its reactions, or alternatively an attempt to intimidate de Valera. The suggestion that the bombing was accidental is ridiculed (12, 14 N. Ireland).
6. Eire .
No reports have yet been received on Eire's reaction to her bombs. It has been suggested that the I.R.A. will exploit the bombs to strengthen the case for union, and consequent neutrality of the six counties (39). There are complaints of large numbers of able-bodied young Englishmen happily evading conscription by living in Dublin; Trinity College is said to be “swarming with them” (22 Leeds P.C.). An increasing number of Irish people living in England say they are ashamed to admit their nationality, because people are so contemptuous of their country's neutrality (22 Edinburgh P.C., Special P.C.).
7. Air Raids .
The response to the Home Secretary's appeal for fire-watchers seems, on the whole, to have been very satisfactory (2, 4, 5x, 7, 9, 18, 23 Manchester T.C.). There has been comment, however, on the “vagueness” of Mr. Morrison's announcement, which does not specify “whether a man's office should take precedence over his home”, or vice versa (4, 6). Publicity for the scheme seems to have been ahead of administrative arrangements, and in some cases wardens knew nothing of it until they received applications for enrolment (39).
Criticism of arrangements for the homeless is still being reported (5x, 18, 26). In Manchester “a number of people complained bitterly of the treatment meted out to them at rest centres, from which they are often bundled off in a highly nervous state, and dumped into empty rooms, where they have to spend the night, cold and overcrowded, and where little preparation has been made to receive them” (35). Efforts to cope with the problem have been denounced in the press by Manchester's ex-Lord Mayor, and local papers have also commented on the situation (10, 19 N. Western).
Though complaints about the black-out seem to be slowly declining, the R.I.O. Belfast says: “In the opinion of the Air Force authorities and of the Ministry of Public Security, the black-out in Northern Ireland is at present very unsatisfactory” (13).
8. Civil Defence .
It has again been suggested that Civil Defence workers should be entitled to the same free travelling facilities as the Services (5x). There have been many grumbles about this matter, particularly among the A.F.S. Cheap vouchers for visiting evacuated families are often said to be of little use as they are valid only for three days, of which two may be spent in travelling.
The need for proper rest and refreshment facilities for A.F.S. and A.R.P. workers has been emphasised in the press (18, 26). The lack of these facilities has also given rise to some complaints among personnel, particularly firemen, for whom more mobile canteens are said to be needed (5x, 39).
[Text Missing] Shelters .
There have been the usual complaints about shelters this week, As well as reports of Communist sponsored agitations for deep shelters. “They haven't been into their shelter because they can't [Text Missing]m”, says a typical letter mentioned by the Postal Censorship [Text Missing]22 Glasgow P.C.). Most people would prefer “to risk a night at home rather than spend it in a surface shelter”. The weather, as much as the safety factor seems to affect opinion about this type, of which there are, as usual, numerous complaints (5x, 26).
A census of shelters made on December 2nd by the Ministry of Health showed the shelter population to be distributed as follows:
Press criticism of shelter conditions continues. Lord Cranley, a member of the L.C.C., has described in the Sunday Times, 5th January, a tour of shelters in the London area. “I was implored”, he states, “to do anything that was possible to alleviate their appalling conditions” (18).
10. Evacuation .
Although the superficial problems of evacuation are being gradually, if extremely slowly settled, the fundamental difficulties still need to be solved. While there are more reports this week of evacuees “settling down” (7, 18, 23 Plymouth T.C.), there are others about them “returning to their homes” (3, 5x, 7, 22 Cardiff P.C.).
The Gilbertian situation in a heavily blitzed city which is not an evacuation area is described in a report from the R.I.O. Bristol. In the absence of planned evacuation the enterprise of local authorities and voluntary organisations in providing occupation and amusement has merely been palliative.
The situation in Bristol is that there are roughly three classes of evacuees, all of whom are, of course, unassisted. The first are those who can afford to pay to get away. The second are those who can only afford to stay away until their money is exhausted, and must then return to their homes, if these are still standing. The third are the nocturnal evacuees, many of whom leave the city every night in cars, lorries or vans, to sleep in circumstances of great discomfort in the surrounding countryside (14 Bristol, 23 Portsmouth T.C.).
11. Food .
It seems a fair summary of the food situation to say that in spite of shortages, high prices, queues, and other difficulties, “the position is being accepted with good grace”. The only stipulation the public makes is that distribution must be on an equitable basis (3, 4, 5x, 7). Grumbles are still at a low ebb, and there seems to have been only a mild reaction to the announcement of a cut in the meat ration (1, 3, 6, 7).
The press is becoming increasingly critical of rationing arrangements which permit places classified as catering establishments to serve large quantities of rationed foods to customers without coupons (18).
Distribution arrangements are again mentioned as a cause of shortages (9), 22 Cambridge P.C.), and unofficial rationing by retailers is said “to result in unfair distribution” (5x).
There are reports from the Southern and South-Western regions of people who live in blitzed areas travelling from their home towns to do their shopping elsewhere. In Bath and Winchester, whence shopers come from Bristol and Southampton, this manoeuvre is said to have increased local food problems (6, 7).
There are complaints of an imposition which wholesalers are said to be forcing on retailers, “who can only buy onions by arranging to take supplies of other goods which he cannot sell (5x).
HOME INTELLIGENCE .