PZ 7705/39 'Egypt: British Embassy measures to influence Arabic press' [‎7r] (13/38)

(J 159/49/16)
M B F 0 ~R A F DU F
IRE Jo AC^IVITI^> IN CAIRO,
on
GEFERA
Having been invite l to supply information on certain
aspects of the Embassy’s Press activities, T would venture
first to place on record a few cardinal princi les by which
relations with the l ress in Egypt have been conveniently guided.
(1) In a country where flattery, adulation, and lavish
display form an integral part of social and commercial inter
course, it is inevitable that a ’’publicity sense” is highly
developed. It follows, as a natural corollary, that those
who cater to this particular complex - namely journalists -
enjoy a sort of fictitious prestige which is often quite
inconsistent with their merits or attainments. "'hus a
humble reporter is often granted access to a Cabinet Minister,
and there is hardly a member of the Royal Family who is not
on terms of friendly intimacy with one or other henchman in
one paper or another. Even the ex-Khedive Abbas Hilmy
employs a salaried and accredited publicity agent in Egypt,
an individual, incidentally, of extremely dubious antecedents
but valuable and influential ’’contacts”. An uncompromising
attitude towards this possibly deplorable but fundamentally
harmless manifestation of Oriental mentality is not likely to
improve personal relat ons with the ]ress, even though the
publicity it is desired to create is not personal but national.
(2) Another peculiarity of the East is ’’backshish”, a form
of largesse which is neither a tip nor a bribe but a traditional
recognition of unsolicited service. Thus an editor, who on
his own spontaneous initiative goes out of his way to present
a case in a favourable light, quite legitimately expects his
services /