IOR/L/PS/12/3942

The file contains papers, mostly correspondence, relating to the use of illustrations for propaganda purposes during the Second World War.

It includes correspondence regarding a request from the Ministry of Information for photographs for the Middle East edition of a proposed fortnightly War Pictorial publication, and for the Arabic Listener (which they hoped would soon be produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)).

The file also includes correspondence in connection with another letter from the Ministry of Information to the India Office, seeking the latter’s advice as to whether enclosed coloured portraits of Emir Abdullah of Transjordan [IOR/L/PS/12/3942, f 21], the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [IOR/L/PS/12/3942, f 22], and the Shaikh of Bahrein [Bahrain] [IOR/L/PS/12/3942, f 23] should be used for distribution on a large scale in the Middle East, especially in the Hadhramaut and the Persian Gulf.

In addition, the file includes a black and white photograph of Khan Sahib Said Abdul Razzak al Razzuki, Residency Agent, Sharjah, whom the text typed on the back of the photograph states was a native of Kowait [Kuwait] [IOR/L/PS/12/3942, f 31]. The main correspondents are the India Office, the Ministry of Information, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior).

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.