ARABIC TALKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22928, 5 January 1938, Page 11

ARABIC TALKS

FIRST FROM ENGLAND COMMENT IN ITALY "A WAR OF THE ETHER" By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY. Jan. 3 For the first time Arabic-speaking peoples of the Near East this evening heard a programme broadcast iu Arabic from London. Greetings were read by representatives of Arabic-speaking peoples. Prince Saif U1 Islam AI 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 he hoped would have continuous success.

The prince said he hoped it would promote a friendly understanding between Britain and the Arabic-speaking world.

The Charge d'Affaires at the Egyptian Embassy expressed the opinion that Arabic broadcasts would bear good fruits. The Ministers for Saudi Arabia and Irak also spoke.

Sir John Reith, director-general of the British Broadcasting Corporation, said the Arabic news bulletins would summarise world events and be accurate and impartial. The Rome correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says high officials of the Italian Ministry of Popular Culture listened in to the broadcast, which was taken down and translated by Arabic employees. Official comment wa3 noncommittal, 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 much interest was created there by the broadcast. Most Egyptian sets are not suited to direct reception, but many tuned in to a local relay or listened in cafes. The pronunciation was excellent, and the news was understood by everybody, though interference from an unknown .station was suspected during news of Spain and Palestine. An earlier message <from Rome 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."

IL DUCE LISTENS THE NEWS SUMMARY FEELING-IN JERUSALEM LONDON. Jan. 3 ' Signor Mussolini personally listened to the Arabic broadcast, says the Rome correspondent of the Daily Mail. The news bulletin consisted almost entirely of accounts of disorder and bloodshed all over the world, beginning with the disorder in the Egyptian Parliament and .finishing with the Spanish war. Italy was not even mentioned. The Jerusalem correspondent of. the Times says that from the viewpoint of propaganda a most unfortunate effect was created by the announcement, in the course of the news bulletin, of the hanging of an Arab captured in recent fighting. The diffusion of European music was also criticised as distasteful to Orientals. Italian stations are believed to have engaged the services of distinguished Arab artists and men of letters at high fees. The British nation must be prepared to spend at least equal sums for the same purpose. It would probably be mope practical, the correspondent suggests, to broadcast from Jerusalem. The Daily Herald's Rome correspondent says Italj r 's retort to the British broadcast was to transmit simultaneously songs by one of the most popular Arab .singers.

FAILURE PREDICTED NO RECEIVING SETS ITALIAN LESSON QUOTED LONDON, Dec. 29 The British Broadcasting Corporation's broadcasts in Arabic to the Near East and Arabia will be largely a failure, in the opinion of the Daily Express. No receiving sets have been supplied to the natives of the countries which it is sought to reach. When Italy was preparing her propaganda campaign against Britain, thousands of cheap receivers were distributed. These sets are capable of receiving only one powerful station — that of Italy.