خارجي ٤٣/٥٠٥٠ "إنشاء مركز عربي في الشرق الأوسط لتزويد موظفين بريطانيين منتقين بمعلومات عن اللغة العربية، والبلدان العربية ومشكلات الشرق الأوسط" [و‎‎٩‎٠] (١٩٠/١٧٩)

mr m
but to—
“ The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
_ London, S.W.J.
S.W.l
London, S.W.J.,
IflDiXFO
17th September, 19
Sir
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Eden to transmit
to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for India,
the accompanying copy of a note by the Minister of State
on the proposed formation of an Arab Centre in the Middle
East in order to provide a body of young men with a
knowledge of Arabic and Arab countries and of the problems
which face His Majesty's Government in the Middle East.
It will be seen that Mr. Casey wishes to appoint as head
of the Centre Mr. Bertram Thomas, Director of the Public
Relations Bureau at Bahrein, whose first-hand knowledge of all
Arabic speaking countries makes him specially qualified
for the post. It is proposed that Mr. Thomas shall receive
the same salary as he does at Bahrein.
2. Mr. Eden shares Mr. Casey's view that there is at
the present time a great need for officers with the training
which this Centre would give them. He also considers that
it would be very much in British interests that there
should be an appreciable number of Arabic-speaking young
British officers who would be possible candidates for
post-war employment in Arab countries. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer has now agreed to these proposals in
principle, subject to the examination of details by the
Foreign Office and the Treasury, and Mr. Casey is most
anxious that Mr. Thomas should be released as soon as
possible in order that detailed plans for the execution of
this scheme may be worked out. In view of the importance
of the task which Mr. Thomas would undertake, and of his
exceptional qualifications for it, Mr. Eden very much
hopes that Mr. Amery will agree that Mr. Thomas may be
released to take up this appointment.
5./
The Under-Secretary of State,
India Office.