Evening star., 1951-12-27
Forouk's Action

In naming DR.. Hafez Afifi Pasha to be chief
OF the royal cabinet, King Farouk has taken a
step indicating that he is anxious to bring about
a rapprochement with Britain and the Western
world as whole. Any further moves he may
make to that end, however probably will have
to be made slowly and cautiously because of the
public temper that has been whipped up in
recent months by Egypts Reds and nationalist
extremists.
1t is a measure of that temper that the
immediate reaction to the Kings appointment
has been riotous anti-palace and anti Western
demonstrations by thousands of students in
Cairo and Alexandria. In addition the Com
muniSt-inspired section Of the Egyptian press
has intensified its no-compromise campaign in
an effort Cd to keep the situation boiling by
blocking any move to settle the Suez and Sudan
issues with Britain, and (2) to drive Egypt into
aligning itself with the Soviet bloc of nations.
But Farouk himself apparently has made
up his mind to try to head off this campaign and
modify present Egyptian policy by intervening
personally on the side of common sense His
appointment OF Dr. Af1f1-regarded as strongly
pro-British and -Western-certainly lends
itself to such an Interpretation. What it means
is that from now on the Kings chief adviser on
domestic and foreign affairs will be man whose
views are fundamentally at odds with those of
the government Of Premier Mustafa Ell Nahas
Pasha. Another Of his newly named advisers
will be Abdel Ell Fateh Amr Pasha recently re-
called Ambassador to London, whose views are
said to coincide with DR.. Affi's.
On its face, Farouk's action thus looks pretty
much like kingly vote Of no confidence in the
Nahas government. BY its unilateral abrogation
of the treaties controlling the status Of Suez and
the Sudan, that government has precipitated
dangerous crisis in Anglo-Egyptian relations.
lYrfH hyT 1SyNfr% % S0{. t.. 4.
Middle East Command sponsored by Turkey.
France, Britain and the United States, it has
dissocated itself from the free worlds effort to
build up a strong system of mutual defense
against the threat OF Red aggression In the
circumstances the pro- Western Ann and Amir
appointments have all the earmarks Of serving
notice that the King wants a different policy
one that will not play into the hands of the
Kremlin.
1t Is safe assumption that all this must
leave Premier Nahas at least aflittle bit shaken.
Indeed, 1t Is not unthinkable that he and his
government may feel obliged to resign II the
King presses hard for a reasonable settlement
with Britain and for more affirmative attitude
toward the Middle East Command Such a
possibility may be remote but 1t Is nonetheless a
possibility, and II it materializes present Egyp-
tian policy should undergo a marked change for
the better.
Actually, Of course, the Egyptians themselves
and not just Britain and the West in general
are sorely in need of such a change For the
course of events has affected them so adversely
that even the Nahas government must some
times wish 1t could call back the past and remake
It, One can only hope that King Farouk If he
is really intent upon intervening, will succeed
in keeping the situation from growing worse
than it is.