The Information Research Department was a secret Cold War propaganda department of the British Foreign Office, created to publish anti-communist propaganda, including black propaganda, provide support
Carlton House Terrace, the original home of the Information Research Department's propaganda activities
Arthur Koestler worked closely with the IRD who republished and distributed his anti-communist books free of charge. Koestler also consulted IRD agents on creating better propaganda and persuaded the British government to secretly fund left-wing anti-communist books.
One of the Animal Farm cartoon strips commissioned and distributed by the IRD. This example was drawn by British cartoonist Norman Pett.
St Antony's College, Oxford was home to several academics working for the IRD, including R.N. Carew Hunt (1890–1959), a wartime SIS staff member, whose overzealous publication of anti-communist propaganda attracted the attention of investigative journalists. The following investigation led to the discovery of the IRD's existence.
From October 1965 to March 1966, a series of large-scale killings and civil unrest primarily targeting members and supposed sympathizers of the Communist Party of Indonesia took place in Indonesia. Ot
Protest at the Indonesian embassy in Beijing in April 1967 following Suharto's assumption of presidential power
Sukarno with Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito during a 1958–59 state visit. Tito would become the founding chair of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961.
Major General Suharto (at right, foreground) attends a funeral for generals assassinated on 5 October 1965
A certificate of gratitude from the Regent of Sleman for financial donations to the elimination of the PKI