POLICY COMMITTEE
Paper for discussion on Tuesday, September 3rd.

FP. 2035/43 1. The scheme for sending a regular weekly supply of newsreels

abroad, which was approved by the Treasury same months ago, includes the despatch of a newsreel with Arabic commentary to Cairo where prints are made for distribution to the Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East. It is now desired to establish in Cairo arrangements for producing a newsreel locally, in substitution for the present newsreel, and for distributing it more widely.

2. A provisional arrangement of this kind was brought into operation in July. The first newsreel was completed with commentaries in English Arabic, Turkish and Persian; and thirty-six prints have been distributed in Egypt, the Sudan, Cyprus, Palestine, Turkey and Iran. The cost for the first issue was £1,400 of which £200 is expected to be recovered from commercial distributors.

3. The net local cost of the production and distribution of further reels is estimated at £800 for each issue, against which there will be a saving of some £100 per week when the Arabic and French newsreels now sent from this country to Cairo and Iran respectively, are discontinued.

4. Full operational details of the new scheme are not yet to hand, but the Foreign Division and the Films Division regard this activity as of the first importance in view of the present military situation, and in order to avoid interruption of the arrangements already made provisional authority has been given for action to continue.

5. The work to be done comprises:-

(a) Obtaining material from the local branches of the newsreel companies, who have agreed after discussion in London to supply material shot in the East at 5s. per foot and material shot in this country at 2s.6d. per foot;

(b) Purchasing from local independent camera men material considered of sufficient value;

(c) Sending to this country a selection of material obtained under (b);

(d) Incorporating material sent by the Ministry from this country;

(e) Producing the newsreels (this will be done in the Studio Misr at contract prices);

(f) Checking the accounts of Studio Misr;

(g) Securing contracts from cinemas throughout the Middle East;

(h) Arranging transport;

(i) Supplying copies of material considered suitable for local commercial use to India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and possibly other countries.

Endeavours will be made to produce and distribute the newsreels at the rate of one issue weekly.

6.For this work it is proposed to appoint in Cairo:-

(i) An assistant production manager whose total remuneration would not exceed £750. The production manager of the Studio Misr is a Frenchman, M.Vignon.

(ii) A manager for contracts, distribution and transport at a salary of £550 plus an allowance of £200. For this post Mr. F.H.G. Taylor, formerly Near East representative of the Gaumont British Picture Corporation who is now in this country, has been selected as the most suitable candidate, and his release from the Army has been secured with effect from the 19th August. It is desired that his appointment should date from that day.

7. It is proposed to seek authority from the Treasury for these appointments, For the expenditure already incurred, and for future expenditure within a limit of £1,000 (gross) per issue.