Britain Opens “War Of Ether” Against Italy

Northern Advocate, 4 January 1938, Page 5

Britain Opens “War Of Ether” Against Italy

Good Reception For First Broadcast In Arabic

[British Official Wireless .] (Received 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 3. THE FIRST TIME ARABIC-SPEAKING PEOPLE OF THE NEAR EAST THIS EVENING HEARD A PROGRAMME BROADCAST IN ARABIC FROM LONDON. GREETINGS WERE READ BY REPRESENTATIVES OF ARABIC-SPEAKING PEOPLE. Prince Saif U 1 Islam, A 1 Hussian, of Yemen, stated that the broadcast was a step in the propagation of the Arabic language and marked a new era in a development which, they hoped, would have continuous success and promote a friendly understanding between Britain and Arabic-speaking world. The Charge d’Affaires at the Egyptian Embassy expressed the opinion that Arabic broadcasts would bear good fruit. The Ministers for Saudi Arabia and Iraq also spoke. Sir John Keith, Director-General of the 8.8. C., said Arabic news bulletins would summarise world events and be accurate and impartial.

Rome Listens In

The “Daily Telegraph” correspondent at Rome says that high officials of the Ministry of Popular Culture listened in to the British Arabic broadcast, which was taken down and translated by Arabic employees.

Official comment was non-com-mittal, but semi-official circles resent the British “interference” in the Near East wireless possibilities.

There are dark hints of “combating British lies with better lies.” The Cairo correspondent of “The Times” says that much interest was created by the British broadcast. Most Egyptian sets are not suited to direct reception, but many tuned in to a local relay, or listened in cafes.

Pronunciation was excellent, and the news was understood by everybody, though interference from an unknown station was suspected during news of Spain and Palestine.

Full Report For Italian Chief. An earlier cable message stated that Arabic-speaking stenographers of the Italian Government would listen to Britain’s first Arabic broadcast, transcribing a report for Signor Alfieri, Minister of Popular Culture, who controls the vast output of Fascist propaganda. Writers describe the British move as the opening of “a war of the ether against Italy.”