A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
SECRET
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
Weekly report by Home Intelligence - No. 37
Copy No. 32
(From Wednesday, June 11th to Wednesday June 18th, 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. 37 - June 11th to June 18th, 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 .
This week, public feeling in the country is at a slightly more cheerful and optimistic level. The factors making for this improvement appear to be:-
1. A measure of satisfaction at the Prime Minister's explanation of the evacuation of Crete.
2. The advance into Syria.
3. The continued absence of heavy raids in weather which does not prevent our raiding Germany vigorously.
4. Increased hopes of American aid.
5. The absence of any obvious impending disaster.
6. An apparently trivial but nevertheless important factor in determining public feeling - the belated arrival of summer.
On the other side of the picture are the following:-
1. Continued criticism of lack of news and of its presentation.
2. A hang-over of doubts about Crete, and associated with this a desire that there should be strengthening changes in direction on the Home Front.
3. A fear that it is the French rather than the Germans whom we are beating in Syria.
4. An even stronger fear that our industrial organisation is far from perfect.
5. Uneasiness over the Battle of the Atlantic - in particular a desire for some information about U-Boat losses, to counteract Roosevelt's statement about our shipping losses.
Public opinion is still considerably disturbed over Crete; but where, last week, criticism was detailed and outspoken, it has now turned into uneasiness, embracing many aspects of our war effort. It is felt that the Prime Minister, in the debate on Crete, answered most of the specific charges against our conduct of the campaign as fully as the circumstances permitted. But there is a tendency to regard the debate on Crete as more of a personal triumph for the Prime Minister than a reassurance to the public; the reply to Mr. Hore-Belisha is thought in some quarters to be severe, if not harsh.
While belief and trust in Mr. Churchill as a man and a leader remain firm, this week there has been more adverse comment on his choice of advisers than at any time since he became Prime Minister. The “Fight to a finish” declaration, before the allied statesmen at St. James's Palace, though well received as a whole, brought back to public memory French and British statesmen pledging themselves last year that there would be “no separate peace”.
The Syrian campaign, with the initiative entirely on our side, continues to be a source of great satisfaction: although in accordance with the present temper of the people, it is now accompanied by considerable foreboding. “Where are the Germans?” “We are only doing well because we are up against the French”. “It will be a different story when we meet the Germans.....” The conviction that “they are everywhere more efficient than we are” is still considerable.
People have become afraid of believing good news.
The more thoughtful sections of the public regret that hopes of swiftly over-running Syria were fostered too early in the campaign, both by the Press and the B.B.C. The news of stiffened resistance and heavy fighting in some sectors has caused anti-French feeling to rise again, after a short period when the main attitude was “wait-and-see”. It is now said that “no steps we could take to remove the menace of the French Fleet would be criticised”.
The absence of serious raiding, through the period of the full moon, was accepted, early in the week, as a sign of worse to come in some other direction, though a welcome relief in itself; later, the belief grew that the explanation was in our favour. The fact that night after night we brought down several bombers out of a relatively small number, scattered over the country, was taken as an indication that “they are finding their losses too heavy to come in force”, and “we have the night-bombing in check, though it can never wholly be stopped”. By many people this lull is regarded as “a saving up for invasion”, and Eire is once more the place mentioned as the most probable scene of attack. This view is usually connected with the recent bombing of Dublin, which occasioned such surprise, both in Ireland and this country, that opinion about it is only now crystallising - to the effect that it was a German try-out of Irish morale and resistance: “If the Irish take this lying down, they know they can walk in”. In connection with the invasion of England, criticism of Home Guard equipment and personnel continues.
The conviction that all is not well with our war effort finds expression in demands for more equality of sacrifice everywhere. Signs of privilege, due to class or money, however small, are immediately resented; and any evidence of industrial mismanagement takes on additional symbolic importance.
(1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 20 Inverness, Manchester P.C.s, 23)
2. Public feeling about America
Over the past month, there has been a marked increase in the popularity of America, coupled with a growing belief in her ability and determination to fulfill her promises. At the time of Mr. Cordell Hull's recent speech on the attitude of the United States to Vichy (“What we want are deeds and not words”), it was reported by R.I.O's that this comment embodied Britain's feeling towards America. While there is still much criticism and anxiety about the slowness of American aid, they now record a new appreciation, particularly in industrial centres, of the inevitable time-lag in gearing up to war-production. The astuteness of President Roosevelt “in persuading the people to push him towards the path he wishes to take” is generally realised, and there is firm expectation that America will ultimately send us men as well as munitions. Though disappointment was voiced in some quarters over the President's recent speech, because it did not contain a declaration of war, other sections of the public express the view that America is at present more useful as a non-belligerent, neutralising Japan. The President, whose personal popularity here is said to stand second to Mr. Churchill's, is trusted to keep America “on the borderline” until her deliveries of war material to this country have become so great that she can satisfy her needs as a belligerent without depriving us of vital supplies. It has been suggested that films showing the growing weight of American help, and others showing the American people at home, “free of the idiosyncracies of cinema types” would greatly enhance her prestige in this country and give “much needed encouragement”. Broadcasters on America, such as Raymond Gram Swing and Alistair Cooke, are said to have an increasingly appreciative audience, and it is thought that more such American commentaries would be welcome. Ministry speakers report that, at the moment, America is the subject which produces much the largest volume of questions from audiences.
Reports of labour troubles and sabotage in U.S. factories are viewed with considerable concern as “Hitler's answer to Roosevelt”; and the President's prompt use of the military to deal with strikes was greatly appreciated. It is feared that accounts in British newspapers of slackness and incompetence in our own production-drive may have an adverse effect on American goodwill.
3. Presentation of news
A special study by Listener Research on the reaction of the public to the news confirms most of the points made in past Home Intelligence Reports. Twelve statements were submitted to a panel of Honorary Listener Correspondents, and they were asked to say whether each statement represented the opinion of the majority, the minority, or none of their contacts. The results were as follows:-
(Where figures do not add up horizontally to 100%, this is due to small percentages of Correspondents not replying).
In addition, Correspondents were asked to say whether confidence in the news was decreasing, increasing, or unchanged. The result was:-
These figures are less informative than the previous ones, since they indicate the extent of change of opinion rather than the level of opinion. Thus, among the “unchanged” group there may be many who think well or ill of the news, but who have merely held their particular opinions over an unspecified time.
The high degree of dissatisfaction with the news, exemplified in the first table, shows that the criticisms reported in the Home Intelligence reports are not confined to the vocal section of the community. The withholding of news, and the toning down of news are the outstanding complaints. Criticism of arrangement and the inclusion of trivialities are large minority opinions. The phraseology of the bulletins and the tone of announcers are little criticised. The wisdom of not treating circumstantial reports of an increase in Haw Haw listening as evidence of a genuine increase is once again exemplified.
This week, our own material follows the familiar lines:-
1. Irritation at the disproportionate time given in B.B.C. bulletins to trivial events.
2. Appreciative comments on the “conciseness and balance of the Overseas news, particularly to Canada and North America”.
3. Criticism of reiteration of our successes long after they have occurred.
4. A desire for brief unpadded bulletins when there is little news.
5. Objection to the minimising of our losses; in particular, there is feeling about the port of Benghazi, which now apparently “needs so much attention from our bombers”, although it was “said to be unimportant when we gave it up”.
On the subject of the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, there is some speculation about how badly they have been damaged, and requests for further news - “as in its absence, there is doubt as to the accuracy of our bombing”. News of Hess is still awaited.
(3, 4, 7, 22, 25, 34)
4. Public feeling about the Services
While confidence in the Navy and the R.A.F. remain at a high level, there is a tendency to single out the Army as a scape-goat for public criticism. The reasons for this appear to be:-
1. The absence of spectacular Army successes against the Germans.
2. A belief that the casualty rate is relatively lower in the Army than among the other Services.
3. The presence of large numbers of troops at home who do not share the civilians' dangerous duties in civil defence and firewatching.
4. Certain doubts about the efficiency of the Army as compared with the other Services - in particular, doubts about the Home Guard in some areas as an effective agent against trained invasion shock-troops.
5. Complaints of delays in the payment of the allowances to wives. The remedy, a visit to the Assistance Board, is considered to have a certain stigma for a woman whose husband has always earned a good wage. Where deductions are unexpectedly made, appeals to the Regimental Paymasters are said to involve long delays.
6. As long as he remains in England the soldier is thought to have few worries and no shortages. It is still resented that he is able to get chocolate, cake and cigarettes in Service canteens, and that he should still be seen buying these and other commodities in the shops.
The relative unpopularity of the Army is said to be shown by the high proportion of conscripted men who express preference for the Navy or R.A.F.; it is alleged that many of those who express preference for the Army are in reserved occupations.
(2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 20 Manchester, Inverness P.C.s, 34).
5. Rumour
There are few rumours this week which have more than local currency. Haw Haw is said to have warned Eire that the bombing of Dublin will be repeated if men from the south of Ireland continue to join the British forces. Hess is reported to have brought over a proposal to limit the night-bombing on both sides. He is also said never to have been here at all, and to have been sent back to Germany, having failed to persuade the British Government to declare war on Russia. Russia is the subject of contradictory rumours - that she has either agreed or refused to let Germany take over the Ukraine.
(2, 20 Bristol P.C., 22, 23).
II SPECIAL COMMENTS
6. Food .
Egg distribution scheme : The proposed scheme is having a mixed reception. There has long been a demand from a large section of the public that eggs should be rationed. The urban population approves the scheme in general; the criticism comes largely from the country districts, particularly from people who have made some arrangement whereby they are already obtaining sufficient supplies. There are suggestions that a large “subterranean trade” has been taking place. It is suggested that a “wholesale massacre of fowls” will ensue from the order that flocks of more than 12 birds will be subject to the scheme; it is pointed out that the small poultry-keeper sells to friends any eggs he does not consume, and that this type of producer is unwilling to fill up forms to dispose of a couple of dozen eggs a week. There is still resentment at motorists touring the countryside in search of eggs, and certain people are said to be buying fowls from poultry-keepers who will continue to look after the birds and will pass on the eggs to the new owners. It is suggested that “if the regulations are obeyed, a fresh egg will no longer be obtainable”. There are some reports that shops are discouraging people from registering as “they do not expect to have the eggs to supply them with”.
Queues Reports of queues continue to be received from many parts of the country, and there is no evidence of any decrease. Sheffield gets the prize for the earliest queue, starting at 6 a.m.; and shredded suet is now added to the list of commodities for which people queue up. It is suggested that certain shops regard a queue as a good advertisement. Much police time is said to be occupied with the control of queues, and the extra travelling done by shoppers has led in some districts to congestion in the transport system. Women come into Leeds on the workmen's trains, with a cheap workman's ticket, so as to attack the shops in good time.
It is frequently pointed out that it is the idle who profit, while the industrious suffer. The difficulties of married workers in getting their shopping done are once more stressed, as the shops shut at 6 and by Saturday afternoon most unrationed goods are sold. Great appreciation has been expressed at the action of a Deptford store which stays open late on Saturdays and reserves large stocks for factory workers, which they can obtain only by producing a chit signed by the factory to say that they are employed on essential war work and cannot shop at normal times. It is suggested that, while such a scheme is open to some abuse, it could be properly organised and extended on a nation-wide basis.
General food matters : Complaints of uneven distribution continue, particularly from the “refugee-ridden districts”. In the protected areas of Scotland the shortage is said to be aggravated by the influx of families of Service personnel and civilian workers, who, with more money than the “native”, clean up the shops.
The price of fish and vegetables continues to cause indignation. There is still talk of the heavy worker, both agricultural and industrial, not getting sufficient food. In the Derbyshire industrial area the heavy workers are said to be obliged to eat the greater part of the rationed food in the home, with the result that it is the children who go without. For the first time, there are definite suggestions that the very poor may not be getting enough to eat, partly on account of high prices and partly because of the gradual disappearance of ordinary commodities. “Even the price of a meal at a Communal Feeding Centre is beyond their means”.
There is still a steady demand that sweets should be reserved for children, and that oranges should be kept for hospitals, nursing mothers and children.
Criticism of the jam-making scheme continues unabated and on familiar lines; it is now suggested that while the scheme, applied to the larger towns, possesses real merit, jam-making “is to country folk, in humble homes and castles alike, a great annual event involving the pride of the kitchen and the services of all the household”.
The shortage of beer is reported from Yorkshire, Berkshire and elsewhere, and there is talk among licencees of some kind of registration of regular customers.
(1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 18, 20 Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Inverness, Manchester, South Wales P.C.s, 22, 34).
7. Industry
From many parts of the country, there is evidence of talk among the public about alleged slackness in factories engaged on war work, and especially on aircraft production. This talk appears to be generally believed, and is said to be having a serious effect on public confidence. The criticism takes two forms:-
1. Allegations of administrative mis-management . There are many reports of workers being kept idle for days at a time, and being told to “kill time” because of shortage of material. The workers as well as the public complain of this. Thus, in an aircraft factory near Leeds workers are said to have been given a week's holiday without pay when, “in the men's opinion”, there was plenty of material to keep the factory busy. Another case, which is reported to have caused “strong feeling in the district”, is that of a precision tool factory at Brighton, working on Admiralty contracts, where wholesale dismissals of men and women have taken place following the completion of a contract. Strong criticisms are alleged for allowing a fully equipped factory and staff to be without work at a time when there is an urgent need for tools.
There is said to be a real need for “propaganda work in the factories telling men who are temporarily slack, why it is so, in order that harmful discussion should be stopped.
2. Allegations of slacking . Complementarily, it is suggested that the workers themselves are apathetic, and that this arises from an insufficient sense of the desperate urgency of the struggle. Other suggested causes of this half-heartedness are the “evidence which workers see of time wasted in many factories; of the petrol waste; the outcry about cigarette shortage; the chocolates in Army canteens, with few for the children; the idle troops who could share fire-watching and fire-fighting with civilians who have to do this as well as their ordinary work; and able-bodied people in safe areas who should be working.”
It seems increasingly to be felt that there is some “real defect in industrial organisation”, that “there are glaring social injustices” and that there is no real equality of sacrifice. It is even stated that the conscription of labour as a whole would be welcome as being more effective and also more fair.
(2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12)
8. Clothes Rationing Scheme .
There are few new aspects of the public reaction to clothes rationing. The chief topics of anxiety are still socks, stockings, knitting wool, baby-wool, specialised occupational clothing, non-military uniforms, clothes for expectant mothers and growing children, the coupon value of handkerchiefs and collars, and clothes for the Merchant Navy. It is hoped that something can be done to check the unofficial statements appearing in the Press since they lead the public to expect concessions (like coupon-free summer dresses) which do not always materialise.
From Northern Ireland comes the suggestion that people are “flocking to neutral Eire to buy without coupons”, that smuggling on a large scale is taking place, and that “worried British Revenue Authorities say it will be the biggest racket Ireland has known for years”.
(2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 20 Leeds P.C.)
9. Petrol
The effects of the new petrol restrictions are beginning to be felt. Some doctors in Leeds are now said to be making their rounds on foot, as requests for supplementary rations are not always met. In parts of the Nottingham district it is said to be “impossible to carry on important work in connection with Local Government Administration because adequate supplies are not available”.
There are many demands for a considerable cut in the ordinary basic ration, if not its total abolition, and for the restoration of the Supplementary Allowance. It is pointed out that commercial firms, doing useful work like removals, food distribution, etc., have had their ration cut while the allowance for pleasure motoring continues uncut. People observe that there always seems to be plenty of petrol for taking parties to race-meetings, and also for long journeys in search of eggs and other food.
(2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 17).
10. Trade and Commerce
Tobacco : The tobacco shortage is still mentioned in many reports as “causing resentment and concern”. In particular, there is feeling about uneven distribution; for example, there are said to be plenty of cigarettes at Brighton, but a great shortage at Tunbridge Wells, the opportunities of the Forces for buying both at canteens and at shops are also still resented. From Orkney come complaints that supplies are very short and that only the wrong kind of tobacco is obtainable; seafaring communities require hard cake and thick twist - not expensive mixtures.
Coal : “Considerable dissatisfaction” about the coal situation is still reported, chiefly from the Midland and South Western Regions and from London. Householders are said to be unable to get enough coal to do any stocking and in some cases they cannot get enough for current needs; coal queues are reported in the poorer parts of Birmingham. The public does not yet seem to understand “why there should be any real shortage, especially since we have lost our foreign market”. The situation in North West Scotland, which has been reported throughout the winter as being bad, is said to be due to:-
(1) Public indifference in the early stages.
(2) Lack of convenient and adequate storage dumps.
(3) Transport difficulties and costs.
(5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 18, 20 Cambridge, Inverness P.C.s, 34).
11. Evacuation
The question of evacuation and particularly the difficulties connected with billeting are still causing considerable uneasiness. It is hoped to present detailed evidence on this subject next week.
12. Instructions to Local Authorities
From a number of sources, there are bitter complaints that Local Authorities still receive insufficient warning of new Government legislation. As a result, immediately after press or radio announcements, Local Government officials and enquiry bureaux are besieged by members of the public, before these officials have received any instructions from Government Departments. The public have to be turned away, and inevitably blame the Local Authorities for incompetence. A practical suggestion which has been made is that the B.B.C. should devote a short but regular period once a week (not a time of peak listening) to announcements specially for local authorities, so that they may be forewarned of impending circulars.
(14 South Western, North Western, 34).
Home Intelligence