184

SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly Report by Home Intelligence Division No. 74
Copy No. 194

4th March, 1942

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.

185 187 3 188 4 190 6 191 7

SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Home Intelligence Division Weekly Report No. 74

4th March, 1942 .

(Covering period from 23rd February to 2nd March, 1942)

Note : The figures in brackets refer to sources of information, a list of which was issued with all reports up to and including No. 66, 7th January, 1942.

I GENERAL COMMENTS

1. General state of confidence and reaction to news

The slight recovery of spirits, referred to last week, is reported to have continued in eight Regions, but, in general, public feeling remains confused and unsettled, and there are many reports of pessimism, despondency and anxiety. In five Regions, this is the predominant note. War-weariness is reported, together with the conviction that the war will now go on for a very long time. Two R.I.Os speak of confidence in ultimate victory, but there is now said to be some realisation that we might lose the war, and that “victory does not come automatically, just because we are British”. There are also said to be “disquieting signs of an increasingly ‘questioning’ mood, with doubts as to the worth-whileness of the struggle”.

There is still reported to be no evidence of the spirit of “urgency and determination apparent after Dunkirk”. People are described as being “in a wait-and-see mood”. The widespread approval which greeted Sir Stafford Cripps' “all out speech” in the House of Commons on February 25th has been followed by the attitude - “Now let's see if his promises really lead to action”. In many cases the feeling of “waiting for Government action” is connected with a “positive demand for orders rather than oratory”.

On the whole, the public appears to be more depressed this week than for many months. The series of calamities to our forces in the Far East, the Channel incident of the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau, the many stories of industrial slackness and mismanagement, and the lack of anything definite to look forward to, have combined to produce a belief that there is “hopeless muddle everywhere”. People do not know where to put the blame. More than anything else they would welcome “an offensive attitude on the part of our fighting forces - instead of continual defence and retreat - strong and efficient leadership at home towards a real total war effort, and some clear-cut goal to strive for in the future”.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Eastern)

2. Sir Stafford Cripps' speech in the House of Commons (February 25th)

Strong approval has been expressed for Sir Stafford Cripps' speech, which has been described as “the event of the week”. His “new note of urgency” stirred people who had ceased to be touched by thoughts of the “long, hard road”. There was praise for his “realism and his call to greater simplicity of living”. His reference to dog-racing and boxing aroused most interest, “partly because it is something everybody understands, and partly because of the widespread feeling that we are not all-out in our war effort”. In some quarters there was “disappointment that he had nothing more drastic to announce”, but the suggestion of stopping dog-racing and boxing “did not go down well in all working-class districts, as people feel that they are entitled to their relaxation and pleasure”. “A call to austerity” would apparently find a considerable response, but “any restriction should fall as heavily on the pleasures of the rich as on those of the working man”.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13)

3. The Cabinet changes

Further reports confirm the public's reactions to the Cabinet changes mentioned in our Report last week. There continues to be wide satisfaction at Sir Stafford Cripps' inclusion, “partly because of his association with Russia's successes”; the other changes are regarded with more cautious approval, and with a “wait-and-see” attitude. Greater enthusiasm has been expressed “for the dismissals than for the final results”, and there is some tendency to regard it as “just a reshuffle”, with “the same square pegs in different round holes”. There is “renewed regret that Lord Beaverbrook has been replaced”, but no indication that this is very widespread. Lord Reith's departure has occasioned “very little regret”, but there is some anxiety about what is to happen to post-war planning.

Satisfaction that Captain Margesson has left the War Office, again reported this week, is still tempered by doubts about Sir James Grigg, “who was there all the time, and must, therefore, be responsible for many of the failures and all of the red tape”. While some are “alarmed at this first open sign of the rule of bureaucracy, which it is feared is coming”, others acclaim it as a “bold innovation”, and as “an experiment in Government by experts”.

To sum up, the public will “give the new Cabinet a hand” only when it has proved itself by action.

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

4. The Far East

This week, seven R.I.Os report a recrudescence of bewildered criticism about the fall of Singapore. Public opinion is described as “stunned by the disclosure that we lost 73,000 British and Imperial troops”. The fall of Singapore is “regarded as a mystery”; it is asked “why reinforcements were sent when it must have been known to the Command that the enemy could not be held, and that the evacuation of the troops would be almost impossible”. There is some difficulty in reconciling “‘fighting to the last’ with surrender”; three R.I.Os report talk, not only of the “muddled direction” of our Forces in Singapore, but of their “morale” and “lack of fight”. Comparisons with General MacArthur's stand in the Philippines continue. There is some speculation as to whether the guns at Gibraltar, like those at Singapore, are “pointing the wrong way”.

Dutch East Indies : Events in Java and Sumatra are being anxiously watched, and, “in spite of the faith that is placed in the Dutch to fight with the utmost bravery and intensity”, most people appear to think that “it won't be long before Java goes the way of Singapore”. There is some criticism of the “pouring in of fresh Allied troops”, which is thought to be “as good as handing them over to the enemy”.

Burma : The vigorous Japanese attack in Burma is thought, by many people, to have lessened the threat to Australia. The fall of Rangoon is expected soon.

India : Increasing interest in, and anxiety about India is reported by nine R.I.Os. It is feared that India may soon be attacked and the “more pessimistic are saying that the Japanese will be in Calcutta in three or four weeks, by land”.

Our attitude towards India is reported as “being more widely and critically discussed than ever before”. “Governmental obstinacy and big business interests” are thought to be responsible for the present situation. There appears to be growing sympathy for Indian aspirations, and a “demand for generous action”. People are said to be “increasingly contrasting the efficacy of MacArthur's resistance in the Philippines and our fiasco in Malaya”, and suggesting that it is “partly due to the enlightened liberality of American treatment of the Filipinos”. It is pointed out, however, that “those who are most certain that the problem can be settled overnight are those who have least knowledge of India”.

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

5. Russia

The Red Army's birthday and their renewed successes have produced a new wave of admiration and gratitude towards Russia - feelings which have been slightly in abeyance during the past month. There is now less apprehension expressed about the German spring offensive.

Three R.I.Os. report “rueful comparisons with our own lack of success”; there continue to be “demands for information about the form of Government which can produce such results”.

Great admiration for Stalin continues to be reported, but much controversy has been aroused by his declaration that the Nazis and not the German people are Russia's enemies. “Some people take it as a preliminary to an invasion of Germany, while others fear that he may sue for a separate peace when he has driven the invader from Russian soil”.

Litvinov's “appeal for a second front in Europe” is said to be “attracting uncomfortable attention”; there is a slight recrudescence of last year's clamour for a Western front.

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

6. America

President Roosevelt's speech on February 23rd aroused “surprisingly little comment”, though it is suggested that it may have been overshadowed in the public mind by Sir Stafford Cripps' speech in the House of Commons.

In spite of intense public admiration for General MacArthur's stand in the Philippines, there is said to be a feeling of disappointment at what is thought to be “America's inactivity”. Four R.I.Os report criticism on the lines of: “When are they going to translate words into deeds?” In some cases resentment appears to have been increased by “knowledge of America's criticism of ourselves, gathered from the speeches of President Roosevelt and Lord Halifax”.

Some working-class critics are saying that “lease-lend means we shall have to work for nothing for America, after the war”.

(1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11)

7. Libya

There continues to be little interest in this campaign. There is said, however, to be some expectation that “further moves will take place shortly, and that Rommel will make them”. A “sneaking affection” for Rommel is reported from one Region.

(2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)

8. The paratroop raid on France

Preliminary reports suggest that “the majority have been heartened by this sign of offensive action, and they hope for more soon”. It is said to have aroused less interest than earlier Commando raids, and there are even some suggestions that it was primarily for home consumption, “to take our minds off disasters elsewhere”.

(3, 4, 5, 9)

9. The Services

Criticism of the Services continues. Blame is laid on their administration as “not worthy of the fighting qualities of the rank and file”. There also appears to be a fear that there is “friction between the three fighting Services, to the detriment of the war effort”.

To the familiar “doubts about the efficiency of the army at home and abroad” there is now added “considerable criticism of the handling of our Naval affairs”, and a “tendency to wonder whether the high control of the Admiralty is sufficiently aggressive and up-to-date”. The escape of the German battleships, as well as “parliamentary debates, and especially Lord Chatfield's question as to the whereabouts of battleships laid down long ago” are held to be chiefly responsible for this outburst of criticism.

The bombing policy of the R.A.F. is said to be much discussed; while there is some discontent that we are not bombing Germany, other people are beginning to regard bombing by itself as useless.

(4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11)

10. Presentation of News

B.B.C .: Dissatisfaction at alleged “mishandling, padding, and stuffing” of news continues. Exception is still taken to the “stressing by the B.B.C. of trivial good news”. There is said to be an increasing tendency to switch off the wireless either before the news, or at the end of the summary, “as the news is always so gloomy, and it makes us more depressed”.

(1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)

II. SPECIAL COMMENTS

11. Industry

Eleven R.I.Os report continued and considerable dissatisfaction about war production. It is widely felt that “our whole war effort is at stake”.

Enforced idleness is again the main subject of complaint. “The Government is censured for allowing this scandal to continue and for not making the fullest possible use of manpower”. Numerous alleged specific instances are quoted of “workers left hanging about in factories with nothing to do” and of “the conscientious employee not allowed to work to full capacity”.

Eight R.I.Os report that these hold-ups, which do not on the whole appear to be explained to the workers, are usually attributed to mismanagement in one form or another:-

Even where lack of material is concerned, workpeople tend rather to blame their managements than to “accept the excuse that supplies cannot be obtained”. In this connection the “inefficiency and slowness of the Government departments controlling the commodities required” has also been mentioned.

Slacking by workers : There are rather more references to slacking this week, “particularly amongst dock workers, lorry drivers and others who cannot be supervised”. Managers consider that the Essential Works Order has made them helpless, as they can no longer apply “the only effective threat, that of dismissal and consequent loss of wages”.

Interests conflicting with the war effort : It is suggested that a lack of any feeling of unity of purpose between the managements and men is responsible for their “not pulling together”.

Workers are reported to feel that the employer “even on war production thinks too much of the present and post-war commercial aspect of his business”. Apparent mismanagement, such as the loading and unloading of a ship three times with different cargoes, is thought by the workers “not to matter to the management who get the 10% on top of all costs”. There is also some belief that where Production Committees are not being set up, it is because “the managements do not want them after the war”.

On the other hand, the recent fining of London stevedores by their Union for working over-time “has caused general concern and appears more suited to Bedlam than to a country engaged in total war”.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

12. Income Tax

The main complaints about Income Tax continue to be:

(a) The “unfair treatment of married women”. The double assessment is believed not only to be keeping women out of industry, but to be causing trouble between husbands and wives. According to the R.I.O. North Midland Region, “a separate assessment and liability is thought to be the only way to get over such problems”.

(b) The deduction of the tax based on high earnings during a period when the earnings are lower.

(c) Income Tax on over-time.

(1, 3, 5, 12)

13. Service pay and allowances

The disparity of pay between Servicemen and workers continues to arouse considerable feeling. In the South Western Region, troops stationed locally are said to be “not unnaturally disturbed when they see men earning £4 to £8 a week for doing practically nothing”.

(3, 5, 7, 9)

14. Evacuation billeting allowances : “There is very widespread discussion on the adequacy of the billeting allowances under the evacuation scheme”, according to a report from the Eastern Region. This is not so much due to the inadequacy of the allowance itself as to the fact that people can now receive a great deal more money by billeting other classes, and particularly war workers.

Figures are given showing that as far as a child's allowance is concerned, this does on the whole cover the food costs in working or lower middle class families. It is only where the standard of living is higher that the foster parents have to “dip into their own pockets”.

(14, Eastern Region)

15. Food

General : On the whole, the public may be described as “fairly resigned” to the situation. There are still minor grievances mostly based on alleged inequalities of distribution. A strong feeling, however, persists at “the unfair advantage gained by those people who are able to supplement their rations by eating at hotels and restaurants”.

Oranges : Dissatisfaction with either the system or the operation of rationing is recorded by four R.I.Os. There is some feeling that priority should be extended to children over six.

Eggs : Three Regions report the view that the ration for infants is too high: “mothers of large families of children are causing much comment as they receive more than they can use, and sell the surplus”.

Milk : There is said to be an abuse of priority for children and uneven distribution of powdered milk is reported.

Rabbits : The proposed gassing of rabbits is causing some concern. Two R.I.Os. report condemnation of this measure as “a wicked waste of food at the present time”.

Multiple Stores : Feeling persists that Multiple Stores are enjoying an unfair privilege in respect of tinned fruit. It is said that “small shopkeepers could not obtain stocks, while multiple stores were able to display them in their windows”.

Restaurants : There is increased criticism of the fact that people who can afford meals in restaurants and hotels can enjoy good food without coupons. A maximum charge of 3/- for any meal in a restaurant is suggested as a check on gross extravagance.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11).

16. Black Markets

Strong and increasing indignation is reported from six Regions at continued activities of Black Markets. Punishments ranging from imprisonment and flogging, to the death penalty are urged for the offenders: there have been local outbursts over “the futile punishments meted out to these scoundrels”. Associated with these feelings, accusations against the Jews are increasingly reported.

(2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12)

17. Constant Complaints

Transport : There continue to be complaints about lack of adequate transport for conveying people to and from work.

Disparity in wages : Dissatisfaction continues to be reported over the high wages paid to juveniles and unskilled workers.

Salvage : There are bitter complaints of incompetent or needless removals of iron railings.

Shopping : Continued difficulty is experienced by war workers unable to fit in with shopping hours.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)

18. Rumours

Rumours continue to be relatively scarce. There are allegations of raids by German Commandos, and other invasion rumours are connected with recent exercises.

Rumours of ships lost continue: the Queen Mary is said to have gone down with 20,000 aboard.

In Scotland a section of the public is alarmed by a rumour that the Japanese treatment of civilians is so terrible as to be unmentionable in print.

It is said that articles to be rationed are to include: salt, shoe-polish, coffee, shaving-soap, flour and bread. It is also rumoured that shoe repairs are to be controlled, and that there is to be an increase in the value of clothing coupons. The butter ration, it is said, will soon cease altogether.

(1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12)