A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence - No. 34
Copy No. 30
(From Wednesday, May 21st to Wednesday, May 28th, 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. 34 - May 21st to May 28th, 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 .
The continued freedom of the country from air raids has had two main effects:-
1. In the severely bombed areas, recovery of spirits has slowly but steadily continued.
2. In the country as a whole, there has been considerably greater interest in the progress of the war outside Britain than even the dramatic nature of events might have led one to expect.
Preliminary reports indicate that the jubilation over the sinking of the Bismarck has more than outweighed the depression at the loss of H.M.S. Hood. But there is considerable anxiety over the battle of Crete. It is suggested that “should the Germans win it, the legend of their invincibility will have been increased to a formidable extent”. King George's flight from Crete is regarded as a strong “indication that Crete is known to be doomed.” Reports agree that whatever happens we should hold on, “if only for the prestige to be gained from a victory there”. It is felt that “defeat or retirement would be a severer blow to confidence than Greece or Norway”, particularly in view of the Prime Minister's words, which were taken as a promise that we would not withdraw from Crete.
“Critically minded people” ask how the Germans have been able to make large-scale use of the Greek aerodromes, “seeing that only a short time ago our inability to give adequate air-support to our forces in Greece was ascribed to the lack of adequate aerodromes in that country”. It is also asked “why, if the Germans are able to improvise so quickly, we should apparently still lack aerodromes in Crete after having been in the island for months.” It is suggested that a wireless talk on the physical features of the island and its position in the Mediterranean might help to dispel some of these doubts.
The attack on Crete is widely (but by no means universally) regarded as a “full dress rehearsal for the invasion of this country in the near future”. The conviction appears to be growing that invasion will be attempted, and there is satisfaction at the policy of “keeping a huge army here and taking no chances.”
A critical attitude over our apparent inactivity towards Syria is widespread. We are once more accused of “letting the Germans get in first every time”, and anger against France continues to grow. People wonder why “official criticism of the Vichy government carries a hint of sentiment”. There seems to be a growing disinclination to distinguish between the French government and people, “especially among ex-service men who in the last war fought for France”. Many people feel that it would be better to have France our declared enemy, so that we could penetrate Syria and also seize Dakar. Darlan's recent words and actions “have not changed the attitude towards France appreciably, simply because nobody any longer expects anything but the worst from France.” Some bitter feeling against Free French forces in this country is also reported, and they are regarded as a serious source of leakage of information to the enemy.
The absence of any official announcement about Hess is said to be causing uneasiness in more than one part of the country, and is coupled with the suggestion that he must have friends in high places. Sir Neville Henderson's reference to him as a decent and harmless person has “had a bad effect”, and is representated as a “particularly unfortunate line to take when speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Information”.
The Hess affair has revived the idea of an active Fifth Column in this country, composed of people in “high Society” and even among those in important political positions. Some suspicion is now expressed of the Duke of Hamilton being a Fifth Columnist; it is pointed out that, when questioned about him, the Prime Minister said that the Air Ministry would answer all questions about him as the Duke is in the Air Force, and this is taken to mean that the Prime Minister knows all about him but does not want to have anything to do with it.
A general impression seems to be forming that “our War Cabinet is not as strong as it should be”, nor as resolute, and that “apart from Mr. Churchill's speeches, little was being done by the Government to encourage belief that leadership is as resolute as the nation itself”. There is considerable criticism of the Ministry of Labour, a feeling that they are “monkeying about with conscription for women” while there are still many men unemployed, and that, while we are “desperately short of agricultural workers”, still more young labourers are to be drafted into the Forces. Nor are these criticisms of muddle and indecision always confined to the Ministry machine itself.
Some uneasiness is being felt about the morale of foreign seamen who are at present in this country, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, French and Belgian. There is said to be growing unrest among them, and a fear that Britain may not win the war, the Belgians in particular “having reached the stage when they do not care a hoot for England”. There are requests for propaganda, literature and films emphasising the British point of view upon war issues.
Among British merchant seamen dissatisfaction is reported on the ground that they are not welcomed in Service men's canteens, that their casualties are never given, and that in general they are given insufficient recognition as compared with the attention lavished on the Forces.
There has been relatively little speculation about the lull in air-raids on this country. In badly bombed parts of London, people are reported to show signs of nervousness at week-ends, when heavy raids are thought to be particularly likely. Last Wednesday was also named as a probable date for a blitz. In Bristol, the resumption of heavy raids with the waxing of the moon is anticipated; at the same time, the hope that our night fighters will inflict heavy losses is stated to outweigh the fear of the resumption of raids. The most popular explanation of the lull is weather conditions, but it is also suggested that Hitler is holding his hand until the Americans have made their attitude more plain; for there is a belief that nothing stimulates pro-British American public feeling as strongly as tales of horror from English blitzed towns.
From the badly raided areas, there are still some reports of apathy and physical weariness. Depression is said to be “especially noticeable among women, who have to put up with all the petty, nagging annoyances of war”. The nightly trek from the raided towns continues to be a serious problem. At Barrow, one estimate says that 60% of the population are sleeping out of the town each night. On Merseyside, large numbers are said to be making arrangements to sleep outside during the next full moon period (June 2 - 16). At Wallasey there are complaints that a nightly exodus leaves hundreds of houses without fire-watchers. At Belfast, the nightly trek continues, and many are still sleeping in open fields and the hill sides. A special study of the situation has been made at Southampton and Portsmouth. The Southampton figure is believed to be about 20,000 people per night, including those who normally live outside or have homes “for the duration” outside. About 12,000 of these nightly evacuees are said to have unsatisfactory accommodation, ranging from single rooms with no amenities, to barns and fowl houses. An unspecified number are sleeping in the open, or in the vehicles which take them out. At Portsmouth, the nightly trek is more obvious, as there is only one main road out of the city; in the town the trekkers are sometimes referred to as “the Yellow Brigade”, while outside they are spoken of as “those dreadful blitzers”, and are lodged on sufferance with a minimum of amenities. At Southampton, the general attitude of both public and authorities is that the town has had its share of raids and that heavy attack is now unlikely. In Portsmouth, on the other hand, renewed attack is expected. (Full reports on the general morale situation in Southampton and Portsmouth may be obtained on application to the Home Intelligence Branch).
Those commenting on the apathy and depression in raided areas suggest that there is an increasing need for encouraging open-air activities, and for providing colour and distraction generally to take people's eyes and minds off depressing prospects. The processions and bands in connection with London's War Weapons Week are said to have aroused great enthusiasm, and there are many demands for brass bands and martial music. A limited survey of public opinion on this question showed that 68% of those questioned were in favour of military bands going round the streets; 20% thought it was undesirable; and 12% were undecided.
(1, 2, 3, 5x, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 20 Special P.C., Chichester P.C. 23, 34).
2. Broadcasting .
The public continues to be very critical of both the B.B.C. and “our news services”. One of the main causes of this discontent is still “the absence of faith in our ability to face bad news”. Recollections of “the optimistic stuff served out after Norway make listeners instinctively distrust the more encouraging items of news from Crete”. On the other hand the manner, if not the gist, of these items has met with some approval; “the lively accounts of dramatic events are contrasted favourably with colourless reports of earlier campaigns.”
There is “substantial agreement between the Chief Constables” in one region that it is the “unimaginative tardiness” of the news services that is turning listeners towards Haw Haw and the New British Broadcasting Station. Chief Constables report that the recent change in the transmission times of the N.B.B.S. has brought enquiries as to what the new times were.
(5x, 6, 8, 20 Special P.C., 27, 34).
3. Rumour
Rumours are fewer. In the Merseyside area, the tales of rioting and peace demonstrations are dying down; this is attributed to their exposure by Lord Derby at a public meeting, to strong leading articles in several Lancashire newspapers, and to word of mouth dissemination of the true facts. In more distant parts of England, these stories are still reported, and Bristol, Barrow-in-Furness, and Newcastle are named as places where there have been peace demonstrations.
At Chesterfield, commercial travellers are accused of despondent defeatist talk. In other parts, Army officers in hotel bars are said to be the “worst careless talkers”.
A rumour is circulating in some areas that Lord Nuffield is to be interned.
In view of the current fears that Royal visits tend to be followed by blitzes, careful enquiries were made in the Chatham area, after it had been visited by the Queen. No evidence whatever was found of any fear that the Royal visit would be followed by a raid.
(3, 5x, 7, 12).
4. Reprisals
Considerable interest has been aroused in the South Western Region by the Bishop of Bristol's suggestion that a night-bombing truce might be arranged. Discussion is described as being “very evenly balanced”, but the majority of people are said to take the attitude that they have had to endure the terrors of night-bombing, and now that we are in a position to hit back strongly the Germans should be made to suffer in the same way.
Elsewhere the demand for reprisals is still considerable. At the same time, some reports suggest that there is a “growing sense of the futility of mutual bombing”. The feeling is also expressed that “sooner or later there would be an outcry about our reprisal raids on Berlin, as people do not believe that our raids on Germany approach in savagery their reprisal raids here”.
(7, 20 Special P.C., Manchester P.C., 34).
II SPECIAL COMMENTS
5. Fire fighting .
There is considerable public feeling about the need for better organisation of fire-watchers. “The present chaos allows some districts to have well-trained and well-equipped men on active service during raids, while other districts provide little more than plucky amateurs, short of their proper kit.” It is suggested that “fire-fighting and fire-watching should be brought together under one control”.
The employment of troops in fire-fighting is urged once more, as fatigue and other factors are thought to be causing a falling-off in the civilian services. Particularly in Plymouth and Bristol, there is a growing feeling that the withdrawal of troops is “short-sighted”, as if the fire-damage is unchecked there will “soon be little left for the military to defend with rifle and tank”.
Farmers report a recurrence of last year's anxiety in connection with crops. It is feared that there may be efforts to set fire to the fields. Already short of workers, they cannot supply the watchers themselves, and hope is expressed that some organisation will deal with this at once, as in another month or two it would be too late. It is urged that saving crops, in the present circumstances, is quite as important as saving buildings, and possibly more so.
(1, 7, 13, 18, 20 Plymouth P.C.)
Food
Complaints of maldistribution continue. The difficulties housewives experience in providing workers with “packed” lunches is still a major complaint. Shortages of fish and eggs are also commented on. There is growing indignation at the alleged profits of the “middle-men”.
Suggestions are made that the jam ration to households where there are young children should be increased. Working-class mothers are finding it more and more difficult to provide substitutes for this staple food, as the prices of other commodities rise, and tinned goods become scarcer. There is some criticism of the fact that multiple stores are liberally supplied with both jam and syrup, in districts where the latter is unobtainable in other shops.
Praise for newly opened “British Restaurants” is widespread, and there are requests for more and bigger ones. Both food and prices are considered satisfactory, but it is thought that the organisation could in some cases be improved. It is alleged that some Local Authorities are not opening such restaurants “because they doubt if they will run at a profit”.
(5x, 6, 7, 10, 12, 16 Leeds, 34).
7. The Rat Situation
The unsealing of drains, through raid-damage, is thought to be responsible for an apparent increase in rats, who escape from the sewers and are reported to be doing serious damage in bakeries, etc. Firms who have always employed several men solely to deal with rats cannot get exemption for them and are now required to report any increase on their premises to the Borough Council, who then send a Rat Officer round to inspect. Many small firms refrain from doing this, knowing from experience that the Borough Council will probably refuse responsibility, claiming that it is not the sewer but their own arrangements which are at fault, and will then recommend the firm to carry out alterations involving them in considerable expense.
(4, 5x, 34).
8. Registration of Women
Suggestions have been received that, before the registration of the next age-group, it should again be made clear that expectant mothers and those with young children will not be called up for service; at present there is anxiety on this point. There are further requests for day-nurseries attached to factories, where mothers who wish to work can feel that their children will be properly looked after. There is also evidence that many more mothers would be willing to evacuate their children, and take up national work, if residential nurseries in the country were provided. It is generally agreed that by the time a woman has done a day's work in a factory, she is too tired to give her children satisfactory attention, and the good done by a day-nursery is often undone when they are taken home at night.
As the registration age rises, a larger proportion of married women will be affected, and the problem of household shopping will become more urgent among factory workers, who are never free when the shops are open. This is already causing discontent and absenteeism; and it is given by many women, not yet eligible for calling-up, as their chief reason for not volunteering. In one West Midland factory, women are allowed to leave written orders to be collected by the local tradesmen, and the Welfare Department of another large firm has asked local shop-keepers to remain open late on one evening a week; both experiments seem to be working well.
(5x, 17, 34)
9. Legal Problems of the Poor .
A special report by the Secretary of a free legal advice centre, dealing with the people of Camberwell, Lambeth and Southwark, makes the following points:-
1. As the law stands at present, there are many justifiable grievances among both tenants and landlords. Tenants have, for example, almost insuperable difficulties in finding out if their rents are legally excessive.
2. The Landlord and Tenant War Damage Act of 1939 is causing more grumbling at present than any other legal problem. Tenants fail to understand why they should pay full rent for a house which is damaged by enemy action, to such an extent that they can inhabit only one or two rooms (they only cease to be liable for rent if they cease to live in the house). Persons who buy houses on a mortgage fail to see why they should continue to pay instalments and interest when the house is completely destroyed.
3. Under the Courts Emergency Powers Acts of 1939-40, landlords cannot remove furniture from tenants' houses, unless a summons has been served, and leave of Court obtained. Where tenants evacuate, leaving no address, the summons cannot be served, and the landlord cannot even store the tenant's furniture and relet his premises.
4. There is a considerable increase in the number of people seeking divorce. This is stated to be due to hasty and ill-considered marriages, thanks to the imminence of calling up, or to one of a couple, who have lived apart for many years, now wishing to marry a member of the Forces. The number of Poor Persons' Lawyers is greatly reduced, and as a result, many people are having to wait over a year before their cases can be begun. Richer people (who can afford the minimal cost of £50) can have their cases heard at once, and this naturally leads to much class ill-feeling. (Under the Herbert Act, divorce within three years of marriage is impossible, whether or no the marriage be “hasty and ill-considered” except in special cases).
A full report may be seen on request to the Home Intelligence Branch.
10. Evacuation
The difficulty of evacuating old people and invalids is still an important problem in many places. The authorities will pay the railway fare and billeting allowance for a bedridden person, providing the invalid can find his or her own billet. This a priori is usually an impossible task. A special report on this situation at Portsmouth states that : “233 old people asked to be evacuated in the first half of May; during the same period 62 invalids also registered”.
The evacuation area behind Portsmouth has already reached saturation point, and “over 2,000 other people are also seeking accommodation in the area”. As the plight of the old people “is widely known and pitied, it has a depressing effect on public morale”. It is also pointed out that helpless persons impose a heavy responsibility on overburdened wardens.
(34)
Home Intelligence.