SECRET
HOME INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
APPENDIX
British Institute of Public Opinion Results
For internal circulation only
.
The following results of a survey made at the beginning of April, 1943, have just been received. The survey was not sponsored by the Home Intelligence Division.
1.
Our Chief Enemy
Q: “Do you think that our chief enemy is the German people, or only the Nazi Government?”
TOTALS
German people
Nazi Government
Don't know
%
%
%
Sept. 1939
6
91
3
Aug. 1940
41
56
3
Nov. 1940
50
48
2
April 1943
41
51
8
American Result
: (Japan excluded)
Dec. 1942
6 (+ 18 saying both)
74
2
Comments
:
1. The only significant differences in the sex, age, and economic groups are found in the economic groups:-
%
%
%
Higher
49
45
6
Middle
44
50
8
Lower
40
51
9
There is thus a tendency for the emphasis to shift from German people to the Nazi Government with decline in income.
2. The present figure is approximately the same as in August 1940. The figure for November 1940 is probably explained by the fact that heavy bombing was then going on.
3. The American result apparently represents a position midway between our own initial attitude and our present stabilised position.
2.
The Government
Q: “Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the Government's conduct of the war?”
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Don't know
%
%
%
Total:
76
15
9
Comments
:
1. This question has now been asked 13 times since 1941. The present figure remain at the percentage satisfied varies from about 40% to about 50%.
2. Breakdowns show that satisfaction increases with age and income, and vice versa.
Q: “In general, do you approve or disapprove of Mr. Churchill as Prime Minister?”
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know
%
%
%
Total:
90
7
3
Economic groups:
Higher
98
1
1
Middle and Lower
90
7
3
Comment
:
This question has now been asked twenty times since October 1940. The present high level of approval (10 points above the first nine months of 1942) is substantially the same as in November and December.
Q: “If anything should happen to Mr. Churchill, who would you like to see succeed him as Prime Minister?”
June 1941
November 1941
April 1942
July 1942
November 1942
April 1943
%
%
%
%
%
%
Eden
37
38
37
34
39
48
Cripps
-
1
34
28
24
16
Bevin
7
7
2
3
4
7
Attlee
1
3
2
3
3
3
Morrison
2
2
1
1
2
2
Beaverbrook
7
11
2
3
2
2
Greenwood
-
-
-
-
-
1
Sinclair
1
-
-
-
-
1
Shinwell
-
2
1
1
1
1
Halifax
2
1
1
-
-
-
Hore Belisha
4
1
1
2
1
-
Lloyd George
3
-
-
1
1
-
Others
7
10
2
4
6
5
No choice
28
24
17
20
17
14
Comments
:
1. The breakdown of the April 1943 figures by sex shows the following differences:-
Men
Women
%
%
Eden
45
50
Cripps
20
13
Bevin
8
6
Attlee
4
3
2. Some of those making no choice said that no-one can succeed Mr. Churchill.
In connection with the question on attitude to Mr. Churchill, the public was asked to comment on his speech of March 21st.
%
%
Total “satisfied” -
43
Very good speech (no reason given)
22
Fairly good speech (no reason given)
10
No rash promises made
4
Encouraging, confident of victory
3
Good on post-war; approve of 4 year plan
3
As good as always
1
Total “dissatisfied”:-
23
Vague dissatisfaction, not as good as before.
9
No mention of second front; did not face war issues.
4
Difficult to follow, complicated
2
Tried to please everyone; an election manifesto
2
Evaded Beveridge Report
2
He wants a permanent Tory Government
2
Bad speech (no reason given)
2
Miscellaneous
1
Didn't hear or read speech
33
Comment
:
Home Intelligence findings suggest that many of those “vaguely dissatisfied” were really members of the second dissatisfied group - those who were disappointed because the speech was not a war review, or of the third group - those who could not understand what it was about.
3.
The Post-war World
Q: “Would you like to see any great changes in your way of life after the war?”
Yes
.
No
.
Don't know
%
%
%
Total:
57
34
9
Age groups:
21 - 29
61
30
9
30 - 49
50 and over
51
40
9
Economic groups:
Higher
40
56
4
Middle
45
46
9
Lower
62
29
9
Sex differences were not significant.
Nature of changes wanted:
%
Work for everyone; better working conditions; better wages
16
Better standard of living; pensions and security when old
15
Cheaper, better, more labour-saving houses
8
Socialism
3
Change of job
3
Good education for all
2
Place in country to retire to
2
Open air life
1
Cheaper travel
1
Get married
1
More religion
1
No more wars; international understanding
1
Too old for changes
1
Miscellaneous
5
No comment
35
Q: “Would you approve or disapprove if military conscription were continued after the war?”
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know
%
%
%
Total:
48
35
17
Men
55
34
11
Women
40
37
23
Age groups:
21 - 29
38
43
19
30 and over
49
34
17
Economic groups:
Higher
72
20
8
Middle
55
32
13
Lower
44
37
19
Comment
The biggest divergencies from the general picture are members of the higher economic group, with the strongest approval, and members of the younger age group with the strongest disapproval.
A comparable question has been asked in the U.S.A. and Canada:-
Q: “After the war is over, do you think every able-bodied young man should be required to serve one year in the army, navy or air force?”
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know
%
%
%
U.S.A.
66
27
7
Canada
56
34
10
Q: “After the war, would you like to see Britain joining with other countries to form an International Police Force?”
Yes
No
Don't know
%
%
%
Total
74
10
16
Breakdowns showed no very marked divergencies from these figures. More women and younger people could express no opinion; but no more of them than the average opposed the idea.
