PZ 5636/35 'Egypt: Annual Reports 1934 -1938' [‎14v] (35/342)

1
I
* H» Arabic hofeot from^Daveniry was Jf
„i }«. with tb. ,*!«.> otprcv.di. g J» ? n«.i».ta Arab .*M with
objective news of world events from the British point ^ view ;__
co-operation of the consul and consular agents, elaborate steps were taken to
collect and collate suggestions and criticisms on the programmes provided. In
the course of the year, 210 telegrams, each containing an average of between
three and four news items and comments from the local press on current events,
were despatched by the embassy to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
According to the latter’s appreciative comments, they proved a valuable adjunct
to the daily news-bulletin. The new transmission received a remarkable degree
of publicity in the Egyptian press, the daily programmes and other announce
ments being printed regularly in almost every Arabic paper. Extracts from
the news bulletin were frequently reproduced both by the local press and the
Orient Arabe News Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . The Arabic transmissions from Rome and Bari
continued to give trouble until the ratification of the Rome agreement, though
at no time during the year was the tone so blatantly offensive as in the years
immediately preceding. The Egyptian State Broadcasting, under the capable
technical management of Mr. Ferguson, showed signs of improvement and invari
ably deferred to the opinion of the embassy any item in its programme which might
have a political flavour. It rendered most valuable assistance to the British
Broadcasting Corporation’s Arabic transmission in contributing items to the
latter’s musical programme which could not be obtained from other sources.
Films.
41. The question of utilising films in schools and public cinemas as a means
of propagating information on the resources and strength of the British Empire
was the subject of careful study, in co-operation with the British Council, the
hffyptian. Ministry of Education and the cinema industry in Egypt and the
United Kingdom. The film “ White Ensign ” was shown throughout the country
at the instigation and under the supervision of the embassy.
Chapter III.— Relations with the United Kingdom.
embassy ° f th j remained main task of the
the Egyptian GovewnmehV 1 !? ° re< i 0r j <,ri ld>c w hole, the manner in which
to beSed ConsMeratio^rEk, r 6 qU€Sti ° ns at issue left little
hinder the rapid despatch of sometimes tended to
September, thekL?;^ ^ the Acting time came in
pletion of the arranffemontQ iVr* ^ + U i p € bC was subordinated the com-
Egyptian Governmenf readily concurredGnk* 61106 agamst aggression, and the
taken to achieve this end d tlle measu res suggested and the steps
Defence of Egypt.
to be the most viTa?a t n^m^esshS e fr r f aniS r tion -° f ^ defence of Egypt continued
the British authorities. 1 The'hnte^tio^ff^ • the £%P tUai Government and
Inadequacy both in men and materiaTev sHnl A Se P teia ber revealed the
impau a useful stimulus to the allied nremfJv that but it served also to
progress had been made In tho fnii 10ns ’ an( ^ by the end of the year
Of the main developments. For conyeniene P WI Af P aragra P h « a summary is g yen
with in a separate section. conveniea ce, Alexandria Harbour has been dealt
44. Iu the autumn of ™
report ^ 1?^ ag&in
re-equipment of thp i> hoosty s Government hid 0 ^ the annual
ontkiCrh B W h in E g y p rw“ h tt 1 f? d to accel ^ate the
Alexandlua and inkf w StepS had been taken to 6St materlal and ‘o
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