238

SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 21
Copy No. 51

(From Wednesday 19th February to Wednesday 26th February, 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 .

Public interest still centres around the subject of invasion. Anticipation of its probability seems to be increasing slightly; and confidence in our ability to repel the attempt continues. There is still, however, much uncertainty about the part the public will have to play, and private plans are being made to meet the situation. Evacuees, having no special loyalties to their temporary homes, are regarded as unlikely to “stay put”. Some mothers are bringing their children back from reception areas “because of the invasion threat”; others are making arrangements to try and join their evacuated children “if it comes”.

The apathy about events in the Balkans, mentioned in last week's report, has to some extent been dissipated by the recent developments in that area. But there is still a good deal of ignorance and confusion about what the latest moves mean. The Turko-Bulgarian agreement has, if anything, increased this bewildered feeling; nor has it been diminished by the conflicting political and press interpretations of the facts. Feelings about Turkey, though on the whole friendly, are rather uncertain. There is some fear that “the Turks, may rat on us”; also that they have a secret treaty with Russia “and will not fight when it comes to the point”. These expressions belong to the minority.

People are beginning to realise that before long we may be at grips in the Middle East with Germany, who is regarded as being “our real enemy”, consequently, interest in the campaigns against Italy has slightly decreased.

The situation developing between Japan, America and this country has so far aroused comparatively little interest, in spite of the continuous references made to it in the Press.

More details have been asked for about the First Lord's statement on the sinking and capture of enemy ships. Discussion about the landing of our paratroops in Italy also continue. The absence of further official comment on these matters is regarded with some misgiving, and a good many people are sceptical of the results which may have been achieved.

Generally speaking, the public's attitude to the war as a whole is still one of complacency. This applies particularly to areas which have had little or no experience of the blitz, and also to rural districts; one of these is described as being “a County unconscious of the tiger at the door”. The main preoccupations at home are still of a domestic sort; food is much the most important of these.

The heavy bombing of Swansea, and incidents at Bermondsey and Hendon, show that after the recent lull in raids, people who had become “conditioned to the blitz” have now lost some of their toughness and indifference. This was seen particularly of Bermondsey and Southwark, following the disaster at London Bridge arches on 17th February. Though there was little sign of defeatism, much bitterness and ill-feeling was shown towards “the authorities” for allowing the arches to be used as shelters. In Hendon the damage was fairly extensive, and there was a good do of “jitteriness” during the raid on the next night; rumours were prevalent that “a new and terrible bomb had been used”. The fact that no siren had been sounded was severely criticised, and was assumed by some people to mean that no warning is given if there is only a single raider.

(1, 2, 4, 5x, 6, 8, 9, 10, 18, 20 Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh, Inverness, P.C. 23, 32. 34.)

2. Rumours

There are still some stories about attempts at invasion, one of which is supposed to have been “frustrated by H.M.S. Renown at Holyhead”. The Postal Censorship mentions a story current in Eire, of “an approaching air armistice”. A report from Pembroke, says that “large quantities of British arms and material, together with a nucleus of British troops have been deposited in Eire. Fishguard and Holyhead are mentioned as “open ports” by which refugees are expected to enter this country in the near future.

There are still rumours that British Forces intend to invade Holland in the next few weeks.

A “gas practice” at Brighton gave rise to a story, reported from as far away as Halifax, that there had, in fact, been a gas attack on Brighton.

Various stories are in circulation about the landing of German aeroplanes in this country. They are said to have arrived during darkness at Mildenhall aerodrome, among other places, and afterwards to have taken off again.

(2, 4, 14, South Easter, 20 Manchester P.C. 32).

II SPECIAL COMMENTS

3. Food .

Food remains one of the chief items of public interest, and shortages and increased prices continue to form the main complaints. Queues are reported from many districts, and are causing much inconvenience and hardship. Chief Constables remark on the time involved by the police in controlling some of them. It is also stated that in some areas people are travelling from one district to another to join the queues. The position indicates that all-round rationing would be welcome, also extra rations for miners and heavy industrial workers, for whom cheese and pork are said to be important foods. Suggestions continue that Civil Defence workers should be treated on the same scale as the Services.

The reappearance of non-rationed foods after temporary shortages is stated in some areas to have been accompanied by unfair increases in prices.

Egg producers in various districts have protested about the uneconomic fixing of egg prices.

Complaints are reported of alleged overcharging in hotels and restaurants, and people have submitted menus to the Ministry of Food asking for prices to be checked.

(2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 19, 20, 20 Manchester P.C. 27, 28).

4. Labour

A special report from Scotland . The proposed “Guaranteed Week” for dockers appears to have met with a certain amount of disapproval and hostility on Clydeside. It is considered that when they have become familiar with the scheme objections to it will be lessened. It is thought by some of the men that the scheme will do away with casual workers, of whom there are many; this objection is based on the argument that “the first Guaranteed Week will be paid for in arrears”. It appears that dockers who have been engaged on casual labour for the previous week will begin the first week of the new scheme with less than a week's money in hand.

The fact that the Glasgow Dockers' Union and the Scottish Transport and General Workers' Union have broken away from the Transport and General Workers' Union is something of a hinderance to launching the scheme satisfactorily. On the whole, the Trades Union element does not appear to be in favour of the scheme.

Reports from Lancashire show that cotton operatives are absenting themselves from work in order to do their shopping and also to collect Army allowances from post offices.

(10, 14, 34, M.O.F. Post Bag.)

5. Civil Defence .

Fire-Watching . Reports generally show that in many areas there is a shortage of personnel and in some places of equipment also. Some employers are demanding a levy from their work people for the employment of paid fire-watchers.

(2, 19, 21, 20 Manchester P.C.)

6. Allowances and Grants .

Reports are still being received showing delay in dealing with special allowances for dependants. Apprehension is caused that revised payments to soldiers may leave dependants financially worse off. Reductions of supplementary war service grants made when soldiers gain promotion is said to deter them from trying to get it.

Concerning the payment of funeral grants to the relatives of air-raid victims, there appears to be some confusion about the regulations. The situation needs clarification.

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