'File 11/46 Publicity in the Persian Gulf' [‎91v] (182/314)

Publications Division
Progress Report No. 20 for the period ending 31-12-45.
A. GENERAL SITUATION.
1. U.S.S.R.
There are again no direct reactions from Russia to
our material supplied there. It appears that there seems
to have been some misunderstanding about the distribu
tion of our Russian material in the U.S.S.R. through the
Ministry of Information. It has been learned that the
latter ruled that their representative in Moscow was not
to take up this question w ith the Soviet Government
on our behalf; but unfortunately we were not informed
of this and have up to the present time been under the
impression that the Ministry of Information in Moscow
was, at a convenient opportunity, going to take up the
matter with the Soviet Government.
It had been hoped that the Director of this Division
would visit Moscow and straighten out the position
personally. Various factors, however, have prevented
this visit and at the moment there seems to be no change
to report in the situation described in Progress Report
No. 19. The discovery of the misunderstanding which
has arisen between ourselves and the Ministry of Infor
mation will almost certainly mean that the distribution
of our various Russian magazines in Russia could now
be taken up with the Soviet Government, and it is hoped
that an immediate improvement in the situation would
result.
2. Persia
Our Cassandra-like prophecies in the last Progress
Report have come only too true: the situation in Persia
has deteriorated very considerably in the period under
review. Our sales in Tabriz, the chief city of Azerbaijan,
were always extremely encouraging and it was here that
a good deal of our Russian material was sold. Before
the disturbances in this province, sales had been steadily
increasing and it was hoped that the new distribution
arrangements (which will be explained later) would
set United Publications on a firm basis there. It is
still too early to say whether all hope of this must be
abandoned but it is certain that the steady work of
building up sales will be seriously disturbed.
It is still too early also to predict what reactions the
Azerbaijan disturbances will have in the rest of Persia.
The loss of Azerbaijan would almost certainly mean a
large increase in the already inflated prices of food and
other essential materials; this in turn will diminish the
money available for the purchase of magazines.
The immediate departure of a Publicity Officer to
Tehran will mean, however, that we can get quicker and
more detailed reactions to our magazines which will
enable us toimake them more generally acceptable to the
public for whom they are intended.
While the Director was in Persia, he took the oppor
tunity of discussing the whole question of Indian publicity
in Persia with various officials of H. M. G., and recom
mendations were sent in which may result in an improve
ment in the general position.
3. Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. :—
There seems to be no improvement in the speed with
which publications reach Bushire by sea or by post.
There are still complaints of the late arrival of material.
4. Iraq:—
The colour pictures) which seem to be a bait foi ihe
Iraqi market, are to be increased by the addition of a _
series or colour insets. The first of these series will con
sist of six pictures reproduced from well-known Indian
paintings. The proofs of some of these paintings have
already come to hand and they are remarkably good.
It is hoped to start these insertions from No. 53 of Al
Nafir, and it is confidently expected that they will go a
long way towards increasing the sale of this magazine
in Iraq. If they are successful, it is proposed to follow
up this first series by a second series giving views of
striking landscapes in India.
The popularity of United Publications throughout
the whole of the Arabic-speaking world, in spite of the
increased competition and the lack of ready money in
the countries concerned, is proved by the number of
requests we have recently received from agents asking
for our distribution terms.
5. Afghanistan:—
There is no change in the present situation.
6. North West frontier:—
Interest still continues to be maintained in Zhwand-
We have made enquiries into the possibility of distri
buting Dunya (Urdu-Pushtu) in the North West Frontier
through the kind offices of the Field Publicity Organiza
tion. The response in this particular district was
disappointing, as the standard of literacy was said to be
so low that reading matter was not required. This view
is not completely borne out by reactions to Zhwand.
7. U.S.A. :—
Reactions to Perspective have not yet come to hand
from America, though comments from Americans in
India, from Indians themselves and from England have
been very encouraging. There has been no difficulty
whatsoever over contributions, ^which continue to
arrive in ever-increasing numbers.
<T