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separately (see paragraph 9 above).
(c) A proposal to start a British school in Libya is being given further study (see Appendix I).
(v) Extension of British Council's General Work Overseas
It is recommended that the following activities should be reinforced and extended: -
(a) English teaching based on British Institutes. The fighting Services, police
and native teachers of English are specially important targets;
(b) Tours, for which there is a constant demand overseas, by leading men in various professions, &c., from the United Kingdom to give talks and advice. This activity is limited by the number of really first-class people likely to be available;
(c) Supply of books and periodicals to British Council libraries; films for specialist audiences, e.g., medical films; translation of British books into Arabic;
(d) The question of an occasional drama tour to the more sophisticated cities
for which Ambassadors constantly ask is receiving further study; (e) Geographical expansion. The following proposals are receiving further
study:
(i) Libya.--The Libyan Government have asked that the British Council should start work there and we believe it would have great scope. The establishment of a British Council Centre in Tripoli, and the setting up of a British School at Benghazi are proposed;
(ii) The Persian Gulf.-It is proposed that the work recently begun in Kuwait should be expanded and extended to Bahrain and possibly elsewhere.
(iii) Aden.-The Council's Institute in Aden was closed some years ago as an economy measure. The Government of Aden have suggested that they would be prepared to find half the cost of reopening it if the Council would find the other half. This proposal should be examined on the spot by a representative of the British Council. (See Appendix I.)
13. Information. The possibilities of expanding direct information activities are limited by the resistance within the Middle East to propaganda obviously originating from official Western sources. For this reason propaganda is often more effective if it can be put out from unattributable sources, and much of our information work in the area is already done in this way. Ways and means of stepping up this activity are under examination.
No major expansion in the staff or activities of the Information Offices of H.M. Missions in the area is recommended; but the list of projects mainly for improving or expanding broadcasting, film services and publications is given in appendix F Annex" The list also includes services to help local national broadcasting
and televisions services.
Estimates of probable cost are given in most, but not all, cases; they will require discussion with the agencies concerned (British Broadcasting Corporation and the Central Office of Information). The list is divided into-(A)" Projects for which immediate approval is sought," and (B) “Projects requiring further study ”; projects of the second category require further discussion with the agencies concerned not only as regards their precise cost but also as to the form which they might finally take. So far as they can be at present costed, these projects involve an annual recurring cost of £54,000 a year and a capital sum (on a medium- wave relay station for the B.B.C.) of £76,000 taking probably eighteen months to complete from date of authorisation of expenditure.
Further projects will doubtless be suggested by H.M. Missions and the Regional Information Office, Middle East, when the time comes to consult them.
14. Trade. The Board of Trade consider, and the Working Party agree, that measures to improve our commercial position in the area will also contribute to the maintenance of our political influence and the flow of oil. There is moreover some advantage in expenditure which, while producing political returns,