BRITAIN IN WAR TIME

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23315, 29 April 1941, Page 3

BRITAIN IN WAR TIME

LEAFLET ON THREAT OF INVASION CONTROVERSY CAUSED BY 8.8.C. BAN (F.0.0.C.) LONDON, March 24. Invasion of Britain by the Nazis has been in the background of the minds of the people since last June, when France' fell. Throughout the autumn and winter there have been various grave warnings uttered by the Prime Minister and other national leaders, and the thought of invasion has not been allowed to stray from the public mind. The reason for this,' of course, is that invasion is a very real-threat and offers a short cut for Hitler to win—or lose—the war. The constant repetition of its possibility has also been made to keep the people of Britain on their toes, so that they will not slip back into that easy mood of self-confidence that has been the background of all classes to the amazement of Continental refugees. Now the latest reminder of the invasion threat is the publication of a Ministry of Information leaflet advising the public what will be expected of them, if the Nazis decide to take the risk. They must carry on at their jobs, keep indoors if a local battle occurs, travel as little as possible, and so on. But are the people worried about invasion? Not they! Men in the Forces and civilians alike would appear almost to welcome an invasion if only because they believe it would be a short cut to peace. There is a confidence and a general desire to "have a smack at Jerry,” and no doubt as to the outcome. In higher circles, if invasion would not be welcomed, there is no lack of confidence about repelling it.

The publication of the pamphlet on invasion caused less pother in the public mind than did the ban imposed by the British Bi-oadcasting Corporation on artists who attended meetings of the People’s Convention. This convention is a gathering of people with pronounced Left views, said to verge on Communism, and the British Broadcasting Corporation started a firstclass controversy when it refused to allow artists, including actors, and band leaders, who apparently supported the convention, to broadcast. In the end, Mr Winston Churchill announced in the House of Commons that the British Broadcasting Corporation had lifted its prohibition. Before this, however, there had been some outspoken comment on the attitude of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Mr Bernard Shaw sent a message to the National Council for Civil Liberties, declaring: “The whole managing staff of the British Broadcasting Corporation should be sacked instantly. Daily we throw in the teeth of Germany and Italy the reproach that they have abolished the right of public meeting and free speech. Yet this is the moment selected by the British Broadcasting Corporation to give the World an exhibition of British Nazism gone mad.” And Mr Shaw added: "We liquidate our looters—when shall we learn to liquidate our fools?”

In the House of Commons, Mr Churchill said that the British Broadcasting Corporation had informed him that they had “reconsidered the cases" of the artists, and they would be allowed to broadcast in the normal way. Mr.Churchill said: "Anything in the nature of persecutions, victimisation, or man-hunting is odious to the British people.” But he added that it was no part of the policy of the Government to accord special facilities for broadcasting to people whose words and actions are calculated to hamper ; the nation in its struggle for life.

The , worst outbreak ,of foot-and-mouth disease since'; 1938 recently caused restrictions to be imposed over a wide area in Britain. Nearly 8000 diseased animals have been destroyed, representing less than one day’s meat ration for the whole country. Eire has suffered more than Britain, and the outbreak' is said to be the worst this century;

Cohcern is being expressed about boys and girls with blank, expressionless faces and drooping shoulders in London shelters, and about boys under 17 who are said to be committing more than half of the serious crimes in Britain. Some blame is laid by psychologists on the “Spitfire” spirit, the war-fostered hankering for adventure.

As the result of an unofficial survey of 50 big public shelters in 28 London boroughs under the chairmanship of a magistrate, it has been stated that boys in the shelters are becoming the “mental and spiritual antithesis of their brothers in the Spitfires;” A considered warning to shelter authorities has been given that “another winter under present conditions would have a gravely demoralising effect on the coming generation.” It is proposed that shelters be transferred into community centres without delay so that they will be in working order before the second winter underground begins. The survey did not include shelters in the tubes. To deal with the "war-time crime wave” of young boys, a conference is being called by the Home Office, and Mr Herbert Morrison will attend. Some of the offences have been: housebreaking during the black-out or air raids; looting from damaged property; shop-breaking; thefts from automatic machines: and bicycle thefts.

Clubs in the West End of London have been abruptly affected by the Nazi bombing. While some have suffered severely, others have prospered. This . was shown at a sitting of the London Sessions Raid Appeals Committees .

When a.request for a reduction in the gross annual rating value was asked for on behalf of the Conservative Club it was stated that gross receipts had fallen by some £IO,OOO and subscriptions by £9OOO. In . the same way London’s luxury hotels have also been affected, and Grosvenor House, in Park lane, had its rating assessment reduced from £25,800 to £16,125. While quiet residential hotels in London have been severely affected, outside London they are booming.