ABSTRACT
In 1935, Italian propaganda in the Mediterranean and the Middle East acquired unprecedented vigour. The outbreak of the Abyssinian conflict and the subsequent need to rally an increasingly hostile Arab public opinion added new impetus to the activities of Italian agents in the Middle East and North Africa. As the Italian government organised through its local representatives a vast campaign designed to persuade the Egyptian political and intellectual elites that an alliance with the Fascist regime would help Egypt achieve complete independence from Britain, agents close to the Residency began to warn the British authorities:
an intensive press campaign is now being conducted in Egypt on behalf of Italy. The Arabic papers report that the Italians have spent more than £25,000 in propaganda…. It is obvious that it is the intention of the Italians to do all possible to discredit the British, and it is reasonable that this campaign will be intensified in the near future … the feeling against Great Britain has grown, and been greatly intensified of late as a result of the Italian inspired news and articles. 1
