A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
HOME INTELLIGENCE DIVISION WEEKLY REPORT
Copy No. 236
1. 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 an impartial assessment of the public's views and feelings about the war in general. It does not, therefore, imply any endorsement of comments which show the public to be ill-informed, prejudiced or inconsistent.
2. It is important to remember also that the public, as a rule, is more prone to express criticism than praise. Good work or efficiency is usually taken for granted. An accurate picture will, therefore, tend to be critical rather than laudatory. When a subject is not mentioned in this report, its absence indicates that it is not a matter of widespread criticism.
3. In assessing the state of public feeling there are no absolutes. Findings can only be comparative. Each individual issue of this report must, therefore, be read as part of a continuous series. Unless the series is seen as a whole, the significance of fluctuations in feeling cannot be appreciated.
4. The figures in brackets at the end of each section refer to sources of information, a list of which is given on the next page. The Weekly Reports from Regional Information Officers (R.I.Os.) are compiled by the Regional Intelligence Officer from a large number of sources. Details of the methods adopted in compilation and cross-checking are contained in a paper on “How the Home Intelligence Weekly Report is made”. This will be supplied on request to the Home Intelligence Division of the Ministry of Information.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
HOME INTELLIGENCE DIVISION WEEKLY REPORT NO. 91
SECRET
2nd July, 1942
(Covering the period from 23rd to 30th June, 1942)
I. GENERAL COMMENTS
1. General state of confidence and reaction to news
The news of our defeat in Libya was reported last week to have aroused feelings ranging from humiliation to rage; the main trends have now become clearer. Public opinion appears to have undergone a certain readjustment; “though the initial disappointment is maintained”, the shock of the fall of Tobruk has worn off, and the principal reaction, reported from ten Regions, is now anger.
This anger is directed at many targets, our tanks and guns, and those responsible for supplying them, our tactics and strategy, our generals, and “the central direction of the war”, and particularly those responsible for official pronouncements and communiqués. These are thought to have encouraged “a rosy optimism”, raised the public's hopes, and “led them up the garden path only to find once again that the Axis views were more correct than our own official reports”. The desire for the truth, however unpleasant, is stressed.
With a few small exceptions, confidence in ultimate victory continues; it is thought to have been helped by the joint Churchill-Roosevelt statement, but it is also believed that the war must now be much longer.
There is almost unanimous belief that “we have been inferior to the Axis in Libya in almost every respect”, and public anxiety about further developments is described as acute.
There appears to be a strong revulsion against public pronouncements and speeches. “Talk which does not substantiate itself in forthright action, and abortive action which does not fulfil the promise of talk will not be endured”.
Among war-workers, it is being widely remarked: “Why produce the stuff for the Army to chuck away” - and “When we've made it, it's out of date and no good, so what's the use”. In spite of this, no substantial lessening of effort is reported.
The Government : Despite the large and diffuse volume of criticism, there is little tendency to select scapegoats. Though there is still some criticism of the Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister of Defence, it is less marked than last week. The general feeling is that he is “the only man we have, capable of leading the nation”. The government is criticised as a whole, along with every other possible cause of the Libyan defeat. While it is considered right that Parliament should demand to know the facts, there is no sympathy reported with the vote of censure or its movers, and its main effect is described as “discrediting politicians still further”.
In one Region it is stated that “the ‘satisfaction’ said to have been expressed by U.S. Congressmen at the information given to them by the President and Prime Minister regarding war organisation has aroused some demand that we ourselves should be given more cause than is at present apparent for satisfaction ...” While the joint statement of the Prime Minister and President has done something to restore public confidence “there is some tendency to speculate what precisely it meant when it stressed the optimism of its authors”.
(1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13)
7. The second front
Opinions on the desirability of a second front are now stated to be very divided; on the one hand, the need to relieve pressure on Russia makes many people still favour the step which is felt to be “long overdue”. On the other, “after the Libyan set-back another defeat is dreaded”. If we cannot hold the Germans there, it is thought we should only be inviting disaster if we invaded Europe now. On the whole, it is felt that “there has been far too much talk about a second front on the part of Cabinet Ministers and others”; that an Allied offensive should be made only if warranted by the shipping position, and that meanwhile “the R.A.F is the best form of second front until we have overwhelming resources in men and materials”.
(1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
8. The King and Queen
It is reported from Scotland that “the popularity of the King and Queen is notably on the increase. They are considered a stable influence in an unstable world, unlike politicians and political institutions. The recent Royal visit to Scotland gave opportunity for the wholehearted expression of the affection and esteem which the majority of the people have for the Royal Family”. The Royal visit to Northern Ireland is also said to have raised the spirits of the people and “has had a wonderfully stimulating effect among the many thousands of war workers in the Belfast factories”.
(11, 13)
9. Relations with U.S. and with U.S. troops .
Two Regional reports mention “protests at American press criticisms of our fighting men at Tobruk”, which are said to have stirred “the antagonism to the U.S., always latent in sections of public opinion”. The “way this matter was dealt with in the radioed American Commentary”, however, is said to have given satisfaction to those who heard it.
Preliminary indications of public concern are reported from two Regions at “the possibility of trouble brewing between U.S. and British troops, as a result of the lavish way in which the Americans fling their money about, and their relations with local girls”. Irritation is also reported against their “big talk”, their “swagger”, and the fact that “they are saying openly that they have come here to teach us how to do the job”. Rumour-mongers are already busy retailing alleged public-house instances of American soldiers insulting British soldiers with reference to Tobruk.
(4, 6, 7)
10. Post-war planning
“Irritation is reported at wasting time on post-war planning now” - in contrast to the growing interest in this subject which was reported up to the time of the fall of Tobruk. It is now thought “unreasonable that so many individuals and firms and commissions should be dealing with a remote uncertain future when the immediate future is pressing”. Some anger is reported in one Region at the “investigation forced by Sir William Jowitt onto hard-pressed local officials”. Only in the South Western Region is interest still reported.
(3, 7, 8, 10)
11. Broadcasting and presentation of news
With the exception of Scotland and the North Eastern Region, dissatisfaction with the presentation of news about Libya appears to be more intense, if not more widespread, than last week. Grounds given for dissatisfaction are as follows:-
(a) “Premature optimism” . The main volume of criticism this week is directed against “the premature optimistic publicity given to our prospects in Libya prior to and in the early stages of this battle; publicity which led the public to believe that we were at last fighting on equal terms and were all set for victory”. (Eleven Regions)
(b) Minimising of bad news . From five Regions and from Postal Censorship come references to “the glossing over of bad news”. To quote from Postal Censorship: “I do wish the B.B.C. would stop their childish attempts at making a definite withdrawal sound like a victory”. (Five Regions)
Particular phrases objected to, and the interpretations given to them, are:-
a set-back = worse than Dunkirk
a fluid situation = the British Army on the run
(c) Repetition . Many people listen only to the summary of the news, as “the main body of the bulletin is found to contain little fresh”. (Five Regions)
The Press : The Press is criticised for sensational headlines, statements by special correspondents “which are not borne out by subsequent events” and for “distortion or lack of veracity”. To quote from Postal Censorship: “You cannot go by press news, you ought to know that by now”.
German communiqués : “The habit of quoting the German communiqué, and then the following day confirming it”, is “disliked”. Contrasts are drawn between the Americans' early announcement of the fall of Wake Island, and our having to rely on the Axis for news.
Listening-in to enemy broadcasts : More people are said to be listening-in to enemy broadcasts, and their reasons for doing so are as follows:-
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A growing readiness to consider the German news more reliable than ours:- “We were told everything was all right at Tobruk, while the enemy were announcing its fall”. (Five Regions)
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Lack of information from British sources, particularly following British reverses. (Three Regions)
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Anxiety to hear news of relatives who may be prisoners of war. (Two Regions)
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Desire for the facts about our shipping losses. (One Region)
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To hear which towns in this country are raided by the Germans. (One Region)
Civilian Listeners and the Forces Programme : An investigation into the attitude of civilian listeners to the Forces Programme has been carried out recently by B.B.C. Listener Research from a random sample of 20,000 listeners, and the results are given in their general reports Nos. 86 and 91. The following conclusions have been drawn:-
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There is little difference in the way men and women listeners react to the Forces programme. If anything, enthusiasm is slightly more common among women than men and antipathy slightly more common among men than women.
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Nearly half the listening public accept the Forces Programme as one of two alternative programme channels, and neither condemn it nor extol it over the Home Service.
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Amongst the remaining half, three to every one favour the Forces Programme as against the Home Service. Further analysis among this remaining half shows that:-
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Enthusiasm decreases with age:- 21.1% of young people (between 16 and 19) show great enthusiasm for it, while only 8.1% of people of 50 and over do so.
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Antipathy increases with age but is never very strong. From being almost negligible amongst the young, it is felt by only 2.4% of the old.
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Great enthusiasm is more common among working-class people of all ages than among the upper middle-class:- 31.1% of young working-class people show great enthusiasm, as against 15.2% of their upper middle-class contemporaries; and 11.5% of old working-class people as against 4.8% of old upper middle-class people.
-
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21 Aberdeen, Carlisle, Inverness, Manchester P.C.s, 22, 24)
II. SPECIAL COMMENTS
12. War Production
“People are tired of hearing of phenomenal increases in our arms production: what they demand is evidence that those arms are being efficiently used”, according to reports from five Regions. “The emphasis given in speeches, in the Press and on the radio to the enormous war production in this country and in America” is contrasted with “our apparent shortages on the war fronts”. Mr. Lyttelton's broadcast in the U.S. (11th June) on American production, which was praised for its heartening effect a fortnight ago, is now criticised on the grounds that people want to “hear about the stuff being used over here and not just being made”; there seems, also, to be “a certain amount of scepticism” about American production claims, and a suspicion that “the Yanks, too, are being led up the garden”.
(2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12)
13. The munition workers and Libya
Doubts about our war production - which had recently died down - are reported this week from seven Regions. Criticism, which in the past has usually been based on allegations of specific instances and to some extent on hearsay, now springs from assumptions based on reports of the Libyan campaign. It is asked: “What is the use of working hard to produce arms which are, (a) no good, and less effective than the Germans', and (b) ‘handed on a plate’ to the enemy, after we have lost ships and men in the delivery?” The report from Scotland refers to the discouragement of women in a factory where two-pounder guns are being made, who are said to believe that their products have proved useless in Libya. A similar reaction is reported from a tank factory in the Northern Region. It is suggested that some official statement might help to counter the feeling of the workers that “all they have put into war production during the last twelve months has produced nothing”.
(1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
14. Holidays
Reports from four Regions indicate that “the Government holiday-at-home campaign appears to be having little practical effect”. According to the Scottish report, for example, “long queues at stations for Clyde coast resorts are commonplace, and accommodation at holiday resorts throughout Scotland is impossible to find”. The Government is blamed for “failure to produce a definite plan to meet holiday needs”. Apart from the feeling which many people have that “they have denied themselves real holidays for two years and are now entitled to a complete change”, three influences are quoted as “operating against stay-at-home holidays”:-
-
Newspaper announcements of extra trains to the seaside are mentioned in three Reports as being responsible for people disregarding the Government's appeal, and for confirming the impression that “those who obey Government requests are mugs”. It is asked, “What is the use of broadcasting appeals to people not to travel - or at least only for short distances - when the newspapers are publishing stories about special trains being run from Lancashire towns to the seaside, and the railways announce that it may be possible to arrange short distance holiday trips?”
-
Reports that seaside resorts are well stocked with goods which are in short supply in industrial areas : People returning from Blackpool, for example, report that “shops there are packed with food - cakes, sweets, chocolates, cigarettes, etc”. The Ministry of Food has been criticised for “failing to curtail supplies of food at coastal resorts and for not providing extra food in connection with holidays-at-home schemes”.
-
Increased earnings : Many people are said to feel that they can afford to go to the seaside, in spite of the high prices being charged. According to the report from the South Eastern Region, “It is openly stated by some of the holiday-makers, including war workers, that they don't see why they shouldn't spend the money instead of saving it for a government which has, or will, let them down”. The case is mentioned of a “working-class woman, unable to board the last train, offering a taxi-man £3. 10. 0. if only he would drive her from Weston to Bristol”.
Inconvenience to business travellers : Reports from three Regions stress the great inconvenience to workers and business people caused by holiday travellers, and particularly by day trippers on buses and coaches. It is suggested that “the only solution which will give everyone a sense of fair play is the rationing of all kinds of transport services by the issue of passes for essential travel, whether for work or recreation”.
(1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 11)
15. Transport
Reports of transport difficulties come from six Regions, and the following cases are particularly mentioned:
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War workers in rural areas : According to the Southern Region report, “There is a growing demand for the institution of some sort of workers' priority voucher for use on buses, particularly among war workers living in villages and working in towns some miles from their homes; these people frequently find themselves crowded off the buses on their return from work by cinema-goers and shoppers”. It is said that at present the position is eased to some extent by the number of workers using bicycles, but reports from two Regions mention a fear that conditions will get worse; “it is thought that the situation should be reviewed before bad weather and the blackout again drive everyone to use the buses”.
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The queuing order : There are complaints of the public's failure to obey this order at bus and tram stops, particularly when the bus over-runs the stopping place, and stops with “its entrance opposite the tail of the queue instead of its head”. On these occasions “it is seldom that the better nature of the latecomers is stronger than their instinct to grasp a wonderful opportunity which has come their way by the agency of others, and not by their own cunning”.
-
Short distance travellers : An attempt by a bus company in Wales to encourage people to walk short distances by suspending the penny fare is said to have failed because - “owing to the increased amount of available money due to high wages” - people merely pay twopence for the penny ride.
(2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
16. Petrol
“‘The extra month for joy-riding’ continues to cause anger”, and it is thought that the Government should have “presented a firmer front and not granted the extra time during which car owners can use saved-up petrol”. The granting of petrol for shopping and church-going is considered by some to be “pandering to class”.
Inequalities of grants of petrol continue to be “discussed, criticised or complained of, according to reports from what may be described as “rural Regions” - the Southern and South Western.
(4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
17. The coal miners
Little discussion of the miners is reported this week, though satisfaction continues to be expressed at the acceptance, both by miners and owners, of the recommendations of the Greene Committee.
The following miscellaneous reactions are reported, in each case from one Region only:
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The wage increase should not have raised the price of coal, and “the middleman, particularly the factors ‘who never touch the coal’, should be cut out”.
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“Miners in Scotland do not seem to approve as unanimously as their leaders of the Greene Committee's proposals. There have been one-day strikes in several coalfields to protest against the awards”.
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It is pointed out in the report from Newcastle that the proposed “bonus on output may be difficult if not impossible to earn, mainly owing to the grave shortage of tubs which prevails in all collieries”. It is said that “where a man could send out twenty, he has only half a dozen available to fill”.
(1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11)
18. Fuel
The following points are mentioned:-
Waste of fuel order : Preliminary reactions - so far from only one Region - indicate “a general acceptance of this Order”. It is particularly hoped that inspectors will be able to prevent “the dreadful waste that takes place in offices, factories, shops, and Civil Defence Posts”, complaints about which come from two Regions.
The Postscript by the Minister of Fuel and Power (28th June) : Preliminary reactions - again from only one Region - are reported to have been favourable.
B.B.C. midnight news bulletin : It is suggested that many people wait up to hear the midnight news, thus “using an unnecessary quantity of electric light and, when colder weather comes, more fuel for fires”, and that it might be better to discontinue it.
(5, 7, 8)
19 Food
Satisfaction continues to be expressed about the general food situation.
Fresh fruit and vegetables : From nine Regions come reports of a shortage of fresh fruit, tomatoes and new potatoes, which “came for a day and went”. The reasons suggested for their disappearance and for that of green vegetables are as follows:-
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Low prices paid to growers; it is said that “farmers in South Oxfordshire who could not obtain prices to cover the cost of lifting and transporting vegetables to market, are feeding them to sheep”. (three Regions)
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Shortage of labour. (two Regions) Where fruit and vegetables are available, the high retail prices are said “to put the goods beyond the reach of the majority”.
Jam making : In the South Western Region, some resentment is felt by rural housewives because “they cannot get sufficient sugar to make full use of their fruit crop”, and there is “general expectation that considerable fruit crops will be allowed to rot”.
National Loaf : Complaints continue to be reported about the National Loaf, particularly about “its poor keeping qualities”. Digestive upsets are again reported, but to a lesser extent this week.
From the Eastern Region however, comes the following summing up of the public's attitude: “The overwhelming majority still approve government policy of banning white flour, being convinced that it is in the national interest. A less substantial majority accept the National Bread as involving no, or only slight, personal sacrifice on their part, while only a very small proportion feel that their personal inconveniences outweigh the national gain”.
Extension of Rationing : While seasonable foodstuffs still prove to be so scarce, demands for the extension of rationing continue. “It is urged that all foodstuffs should be included in the Points Rationing Scheme”. It is still felt that unfair discrimination is shown by some shopkeepers, and “that there are under counter sales to those who are popular with their greengrocers because they ‘do not dig for victory’ and reduce his profits”. It is also said that in some sweetshops in London “stocks are reserved for selected customers who pay an over-riding commission to the assistants”.
Some feeling is reported from three Regions about the “apparent availability of foodstuffs in short supply to hotels”.
Satisfaction is expressed with:-
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Dried eggs. (three Regions)
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“The continuance of the unlimited milk supply for a further period”. (one Region)
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The advertising by the Ministry of Food - “straight-forward, not obscure or too official”.
Poultry Foodstuffs : “Considerable regret” at the reduction in the supply of feeding stuffs for fowls among the large number of new domestic fowl owners is reported from one Region and Postal Censorship.
(2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 21 Aberdeen, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester, Nottingham P.C.s)
20. School children on farms
For some weeks now there have been reports of controversy - though not on a very wide scale - on the exemption of school children of 12 and over from compulsory school attendance, in order to give help with seasonal agricultural work in term time. Opposition appears to be strongest in Wales, but in the South Western Region “the increasing tendency to apply for such exemptions and implement them is beginning to cause anxiety”. Two Regional reports refer to people regarding it as “a retrograde step”, and objection is based chiefly on the opinion that “it will seriously interfere with education and should not be necessary if proper attention had been paid to the needs of agriculture”. It is felt that “the loss of education is life-long”. There is some reference also to “the recent publicity given to the position in Germany in the matter of child labour”. At the same time, the shortage of help for farmers is described as “serious”.
(4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13)
21. Day nurseries
The shortage of nurseries is said to be affecting female labour in various parts of the North Eastern Region. It is reported from Sheffield that “the campaign for the recruitment of women workers for the munition factories, at present being run there, is severely handicapped by the restricted facilities for the care of children of prospective registrants. Women are said to be leaving the R.O.F. at Thorp Arch because of inadequate arrangements for the care of their children, which is reported to be particularly affecting women on night shift”.
(2, 10)
22. Constant topics and complaints
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Disparity in pay, especially between (i) Servicemen and munition workers; (ii) agricultural workers and unskilled labourers on aerodrome sites; (iii) miners and their daughters in factories; (iv) men in the Forces who do not have their wages made up by their employers, and those who do. (3, 4, 9, 10)
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Shortage of sweets and chocolates “which have disappeared since rationing was announced”. (2, 3, 4, 6, 32)
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Shopping difficulties - increased by lunch-hour closing - particularly for “women who are working and have households to run as well”. (4, 5, 6, 10)
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High prices of green vegetables and fruit charged to the public, and low prices paid to the growers. (2, 7, 9, 10, 21 Edinburgh, Manchester P.C.s)
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Inadequate collection of salvage. (1, 5, 8, 11)
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Shortage and high price of furniture. (4, 5, 6)
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Shortage of, and “extravagant prices asked” for, housing accommodation. Women with children, and soldiers' wives, in particular, have great difficulty in getting accommodation. (4, 5, 10)
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Shortage and high price of perambulators. (3, 4, 5)
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Shortage of children's clothing, particularly shoes. (1, 4, 5)
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Shortage and high price of crockery. (4, 5, 6)
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Difficulties of small shopkeepers. (7, 9, 10)
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High wages and “complete irresponsibility” of young people of both sexes. (4, 6, 9)
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Waste of paper by Government Departments in “too numerous and complicated forms”. (4, 7, 8)
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“Unfair distribution” of supplementary clothing coupons for factory workers. (5, 9)
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Inadequacy of old age pensions. (5, 10)
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“The farce of the fixed price for West End meals”. (4, 5)
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Increase in frequenting public houses by young lads and girls. (3, 8)
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Shortage of kettles and saucepans. (2, 4)
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Shortage of elastic. (4, 5)
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Shortage of household brushes. (4, 8)
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The opposition of members of the V.A.D. to the proposal to incorporate mobile V.A.D.s in the A.T.S. (7, 11)
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“Idle people who stand in luxury queues”. (4, 32)