Abstract: This file documents steps considered and taken by the British to combat reported Italian anti-British propaganda and disseminate pro-British propaganda in the Middle East and beyond.The file's principal correspondents are the following: His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome (Eric Drummond); the British Consul-General, Addis Ababa (Hugh Stonehewer Bird); His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires, Addis Ababa (Patrick Maxwell Roberts); the British Consul-General, Batavia (Henry Fitzmaurice); His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, Jedda (Albert Spencer Calvert); His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Reader William Bullard); officials of the Foreign Office, the India Office, and the Government of India's External Affairs Department.Included in the correspondence is discussion of the following:Ibn Saud's [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] views on Italian activities in the Middle East.The movements of Shakib Arslan of the Syria Palestine Islamic League, including his reported visit to Rome in November 1936.The Italian regime in Ethiopia (including its education system) and the effect of Italian propaganda on Ethiopia's Muslim population.Reports of the publication of a manifesto in Libya that claims for Mussolini the title of 'Protector of Islam'.Accounts of speeches and statements given by Mussolini regarding Italy's attitude towards Muslim populations.Reported Italian sympathies amongst the Arab population in Palestine.Reports of Italian-inspired anti-British propaganda in the Dutch East Indies (mainly in Java), and the possibility of counteracting its effect on the local Arab population by sending pro-British Arabic periodicals to influential Arab residents there (also considered is the possibility of sending visitors from the Persian Gulf to deliver pro-British lectures).Italian propaganda regarding the financial assistance provided by the Italian authorities for Ethiopian Muslims to make the pilgrimage to Mecca.Steps taken by the British authorities in Alexandria to combat anti-British propaganda in Egypt, which include establishing a pro-British magazine named
Zahrat el Sharq.The Arabic language material consists of a copy of the first issue of the aforementioned magazine,
Zahrat el Sharq, dated 18 July 1938 and mainly consisting of pro-British propaganda. The French language material consists of several items of correspondence and a copy of a text which translates into English as 'Islam Policy of Italy'.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 2).Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 229; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-229; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.