Coll 35/25(4) 'Telegraphs, Postal and Wireless. Arabic broadcasts by B.B.C. and All-India Radio (including minutes of Persian Gulf Radio Listeners' Ctte)' [‎83r] (165/523)

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1941
7672
OF
jj L E G ird A M
From Govt of India,. External Affairs Pept ? to S. of S, for India.
Dated Simla 18.10 hrs f 29th May,X941.
deceived 21.00 hrs.. 30th May, 1941
X
2539.
A&2X ^ ^ Jour. •UfeyrFiim ^o ,.—1122 8 d. aial Mai 05tlu Further detailed criticism
of 11 .B<,C. Arabic broadcasts by B. have been sent to 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. by
sea mail with our letter D-26-X(P)/41 # dated May 12th. Following:
is precis of his note,
‘'Italian propaganda. A bad case in the hands of bad advocate.
People {omission) still remember doings of Mussolini in Abyssinia and
Albania.
, German propaganda. This is batter development and better
(Vsuit)ed for* Mohamedans. Speaker understand spiritual tendencies
peculiar to Arab and appeals to bent of their mind. First of all sneaker
recites short verse from the foran in cultivated speech, Arabian or’
Egyptian. Then In clear* and terse terms gives review of events.
Other subjects are ‘introduced in a narrative form often embellished with
literary allusions and. spenkei leads audience on* ground where he is
sure to win them over. He introduces the delicate problem of race,
his favourite subject being jev/ish question.
British propaganda. The language of the speaker who
tibo ad easts in Arabic to Moslem world is polished and pure. He possesses
profound knowledge of Arabic better than speaker from Berlin. Though
he \ r omi t ,s to cite from toe tCorao, he speaks (Vwi th CGt’-ry} claumess
and (?moderation).
ue is, however, followed by another ill-prepared speaker who
produces clap trap in so-called language of North Africa. This
language is not real Arabic. Speaker is unquestionably illiterate,
lacking finesse and devoid of (V'embeillshment). His announcing must
ce very painfal to the elite in North Africa, who, like their brothers
in Syria, are {?steep)ed in tradition and acquainted with both Arabic
and French poetry. Sven die peasant has some Arab culture. Therefore
there should be one language for all those versed in the Koran.
therefore suggests the Yijerian speaker should be suppressed
it is well to remember, that all Arabs are brethren (Vand
7/e) should not attempt to make water-tight compartments among them"
m.®* POLn Bt^r.
i\ VlAY 941
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.