Skip to item: of 810
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'File 1/A/50 I Publicity' [‎77v] (154/810)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 1 file (403 folios). It was created in 31 Jul 1939-25 Nov 1939. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

12
was trying to bring about “ the political exhaustion and economic
destruction of this German community.” r ^ ,
The German Chancellor then repeated the accusations of Polish
maltreatment of the German minority and his own demands for
the full return both of Danzig and the Corridor to Germany.
He continued as to the question of negotiations:
“ 0 ^ this subject the Germiin Government makes the following declaration .
Though sceptical as to the prospects of a successtul outcome, they are neverthe
less prepared to accept the English proposal and to enter into direct discussions. They
do so as has already been emphasised, solely as the result of the impression made
upon them by the written statement received from the British Government that they
too desire a pact of friendship in accordance with the general lines indicated to the
The German Government desire in this way to give the British Government and
the British nation a proof of the sincerity of Germany’s intentions to enter into
a lasting friendship with Great Britain. * „ u
The Government of the Reich felt, however, bound to point out to the British
Government that in the event of a territorial re-arrangement in Poland they would
no longer be able to bind themselves to give guarantees or to participate in guarantees
without the U.S.S.R. being associated therewith.
For the rest in making these proposals, the German Government have never had
anv intention of touching Poland’s vital interests or questioning the existence of an
independent Polish State. The German Government, accordingly, in these circum
stances agree to accept the British Government’s offer of their good offices in securing
the despatch to Berlin of a Polish Emissary with full powers. They count on the
arrival of this Emissary on Wednesday, the 30th August, 1939.
The German Government will immediately draw up proposals for a solution
acceptable to themselves and will, if possible, place these at the disposal of the British
r.nvfM-nmpnt before the arrival of the Polish negotiator.”
At 2 a.m. on the morning of the following day, 30th August, the
British Government telegraphed to their Ambassador in Berlin,
saying:
“ We shall give careful consideration to German Government’s reply, but it is, of
course, unreasonable to expect that we can produce a Polish representative in
Berlin to-day. and German Government must not expect this.”
On the afternoon of 30th August, the Prime Minister sent a
message to Herr Hitler saying that the German note was being
urgently considered, that representations had been made in
Warsaw urging the avoidance of frontier incidents, and that they
welcomed the desire for Anglo-German understanding. Later in
the afternoon two telegrams were sent to the British Ambassador
in Berlin. The first emphasised the need to avoid incidents both
on the German and Polish sides. The second said :
*• We understand that German Government are insisting that a Polish representa- -p,
tive with full powers must come to Berlin to receive German proposals. We cannot *
advise Polish Government to comply with this procedure, which is wholly unreason
able.
Could you not suggest to German Government that they adopt the normal pro
cedure, when their proposals are ready, of inviting Polish Ambassador to call and
handing proposals to him for transmission to Warsaw and inviting suggestions as
to conduct of negotiations.
German Government have been good enough to promise they will communicate
proposals also to His Majesty’s Government. If latter think they offer reasonable
basis they can be counted on to do their best in Warsaw to facilitate negotiations.”
At midnight on 30th August, the British Government’s promised
reply was handed over to the German Government.
In this reply, the British Government, after repeating their
desire for a friendly understanding with Germany, took note that

About this item

Content

The file deals with the dissemination in Bahrain of publicity and propaganda material in support of the British and allied cause at the start of the Second World War (1939-45). Most of the information originated with the Ministry of Information in London. The file also contains information on the response of British officials to broadcasts in the region by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and the support given to the allied side by the Ruler and people of Bahrain.

The principal correspondents are the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (principally, Major Charles Geoffrey Prior); the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain (Hugh Weightman); the Ministry of Information (which is often referred to in the correspondence as MINIF or MINIFORM); the Information Office, Aden; the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; and the Government of India.

The papers cover: the selection of Bahrain as the publicity distributing centre for the Arab side of the Gulf, and the appointment of a publicity interpreter at Bahrain, who would also undertake intelligence duties (folios 2-6); India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. telegram explaining the principles adopted as the basis of British publicity abroad (folios 8-9); Arabic broadcasts by the BBC, including comments on the service, many of them critical, by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Prior), and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain; discussion of the format and publication of the Arabic language Al Bahrain newspaper (e.g. folios 29-30); numerous reports from the Ministry of Information on political, military and economic developments in the war (including contradictions of German propaganda), which were then recast in Bahrain and translated for publication in the newspaper Al Bahrain ; the suggested use of loudspeakers to broadcast a daily Arabic news bulletin (e.g. folios 36-37); official reports forwarded to Bahrain by the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. (e.g. Papers concerning the Treatment of German Nationals in Germany, 1938-1939 (London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1939) (folios 221-238); covering letters for pamphlets of war interest sent by the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Bahrain to the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) for the use of employees of the company (e.g. folio 266); the support of the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamad [Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah], for the allied cause (e.g. folios 251, 253); the assessment of public opinion on the war in Bahrain and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. (e.g. folios 279, 281, and 348); and newspaper cuttings used for publicity purposes (folios 313-319).

The Arabic language content of the papers consists of approximately fifteen folios of publicity material and correspondence.

The date range gives the covering dates of the correspondence; the last dated additions to the file are notes on a couple of the documents dated 29 November 1939.

Extent and format
1 file (403 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file, except where enclosures of an earlier date are filed after their relevant covering letter, and terminate in a set of notes (folios 396-404). Circled serial numbers in red crayon on certain items of correspondence refer to entries in the notes.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 405; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-395; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'File 1/A/50 I Publicity' [‎77v] (154/810), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/174, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028297535.0x00009b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100028297535.0x00009b">'File 1/A/50 I Publicity' [&lrm;77v] (154/810)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100028297535.0x00009b">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00038d/IOR_R_15_2_174_0154.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00038d/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image