Evening star., 1953-05-17
The Egyptian Side

The Naguib government, which
represents the best and perhaps the
last hope Of a strong and friendly
Egypt, cannot survive the political
storm that continued presence Of
British troops Is stirring up. His
revolutionary movement, which
swept in on wave of popular senti-
ment against despotisrn, feudalism
and corruption has staked its entire
future on the goal of freeing Egypt
from 70 years of British domination.
From the beginning, Gen. Naguib
has announced himself as the sworn
enemy of communism. He has been
under constant attack from Egyp-
tian Reds as the tool of Anglo
American Imperialism. Evacuation
OF the British is the only adequate
answer to these charges.
Alternatives to Noguib
From the Vests point of view,
the alternatives to the Naguib gov
ernment are not pleasant. They
would be faced with the danger that
the Communists would seize control,
or forced into the grim job of i'm
posing some kind of puppet regime
on rebelliouS and hostile people.
In either case, the cause of the
West. not only in Egypt but through
out the entire Arab world, would be
hopelessly damaged.
At this stage, the presence of
British forces in Egypt can hardly
be said to represent a stabilizing in
f1uence in the Middle East, either
from political or a military stand
point. The whole Arab world is in q
state Of violent social revolution,
which the Communists are seeking to
exploit to their own advantage. A
serious outbreak in Egypt would give
the Reds the weapons they need to
take over politically in many places,
without going to the trouble of q
military conquest.
The West can never win the friend
ship of the Arab states, or create
any real military strength in the
Middle East, on the basis of force.
On the other hand, peaceful evacu-
alton of Egypt would be a real first
step to closer friendship and mill
tary cooperation.
Concern for Defense
No one. including the British, is
more concerned about the defense of
Egyptian territory and the Suez
Canal Zone than the Egyptians
themselves. Once the British are
out, Egypt can go on to become q
real contributing member of the
Western alliance. She would well
come help from the United States in
building up her forces, which would
be more than capable of defending
the base under any conditions short
of all-out war. In case of aggres-
sion. Egypt would appeal Immediate
ly for help from her allies. And un-
der these conditions, bases, not only
in Suez but throughout Egypt would
be at the disposal Of the allies.
Egypt agrees that the Suez base
must be maintained at maximum
efficiency, and recognizes the need
for technical help in doing it. But
Egypt is not prepared to admit
that 5000 experts are necessary,
or that they necessarily need all
be British. The important thing
is that the area should come under
the Egyptian flag, and that COM
mand of the base should be trans
ferred to Egyptians.
Above all, the political situation
in Egypt requires that the British
evacuation should be carried out
speedily and Internationally. What
ever agreements Egypt may make
afterward with the West, they
must be entered into freely with
the support of the Egyptian people.
In holding out for solemn guaran-
tees as a condition of their with
drawal, the British are jeopardizing
the security that everybody is ear
nestly seeking.
the situation, of course, which are
lents. On the British side. there is
cal problem that would be created
atives If it looked as though Britain
On both sides. the negotiations have
ublic opinion to point that almost
omise agreement. Mutual hostility
tn in the other fellow is the most
5 who have followed the talks. Re-
atmosphere.
nd, the interest and influence of the
mt part. For some time both sides
m that the State Department would
tisfy everybody. The recent visit to
S awaited with more hope than real
he deadlock.
alton Of how Uncle Sam will take his
attacked Mr.. Dulles as spokesman
Itish hit the ceiling when he handed
the official American posi-
I'D be. It is not easy to choose fatty
above. Nor is it easy to see how the
interests on one side without dan
hostility between Egypt and Britain,
seems hopeless. Behind the scenes,
Cairo may be able to get the British
bly, about the problem.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of
unlikely that the United States will
MS with Britain. The whole structure
q base.
political considerations in the Near
lem world. If it boiled down to a
le Of the Suez base and the friend
the answer would be easy.
er at the moment is not easy. And
Of 0V0ntc IN f1a froa 1szorlN,e Saouaek