'Eastern Bureau, Basrah Branch' [‎2r] (5/188)

on tho nowly-fopnod Eastern Bureau and tho fimcticns of the
Basrah Branch.
In December last it was decided by His Ma3esty f s Government
that in order to combat highly organised German Turkish pro-
par 5 anda which were then making rapid headway, a Bureau should
be established for the collection and co -ordinr.tion of Islamic
and AraMaa Intollic^ce. Its functions wore to cormunicate in
formation to the authorities and persons concerned in London,
Mesopotamia, India and the Vediteranean, and to prepare mater
ial for propaganda in the Indian British and French Press and
pamphlets in various are ^s. The Central orking Office was to
be located in Cairo.
This Bureau has now taken shape; the Cairo Office is conducted
by the Head of the Soudan Intelligence Department under the
orders of the High Commissioner, Egypt. It communicates
through the latter with the Poreign Office London ind direct
with the Ccvermnerit <f India and th3 Mesopotamia Expeditionary
Force on the other. Although at present its work aa d fuictions
will have a special connection with the prosecution <f the war,
it is intended that the Bureau shall be a permanent institution
for use after peace has been proclaimed. ,
r A.B. Fforde, I.C.S. has been deputed to Cairo to represent
Indian interests on the Bureau.
The Mesopotanian Office of the Bureau is located at the Head
quarter Office of the Chief Pcliti'cal Officer, Mesopotamia
Expeditionary Force, Fho has been placed in charge of the
Bureau work by tho Army Comiaandor. Miss G.LJJell has boon ap-
pointed as Corresponding Officer to work under Chief Political
Officer's supervision.
The reports of the Central Office ± Cairo are now being /
sent to the Government of India and to the Chief Political
Officers at Aden and Basrah.
The wrrk aa d functions of the Bureau, and in so far as is
applicable, of the Basrah Office, will be generally as follows:
j||v '• The collection and distribution of information touchirr
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