The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-07-28
BY ROBERT HEWETr

CAIRO, Egypt B-All Egypt eel.
ebrated today at the announce.
ment that the British have agreed
TO pull their $1,000 troops out Of
the Suez Canal zone, probably by
mid-1956.
Egyptian Prime Minister Canal
Abdel NaSser and British War
Minister Antony. Head signed a
preliminary pact last night, agree
ing on principles to be incorpo-
rated into a formal treaty. The
final accord is expected to be
signed in q month or two.
The agreement ended the two
nations long and often bloody dis
pute over control of the big land
and air bases which Britain built
in the strategic zone at a cost Of
1920, 100000.
It provides that all British troops
will be withdrawn from the Suez
within 20 months after the final
treaty is signed, but that Britain
can use the bases again if any Of
the eight Arab states or Turkey
Il attacked.
7-YeaF Plan
Britain also will maintain the
present military installations along
the 1O4-mile-long canal for seven
years with civilian technicians.
Col. Anwar Sadat, a member of
Egypt's ruling Revolutionary Coun-
Gil, said last night Britain and the
United States had agreed in prin-
ciple to supply Egypt with mill
tary aid now that the Suez issue
is settled. Sadat said the Egyptian
army would be doubled within five
years.
Nasser broadcast to the nation
that "this is a glorious day in
the history of Egypt" Radio Cal
10, which normally closes down at
midnight, stayed on the air all
night to repeat the broadcast. I'm
promptu celebrations were report
Cd throughout the country.
Egyptians were jubilant because
the agreement, coming after years
of bitterness and violence, means
their country will be free of Brit
ish troops for the first time since
1882.
Treaty Details
British Egyptian committees will
begin work tomorrow on drafting
the treaty details, Egyptian War
Minister 1t. Col. Hussein Shfei
announced. He said he expected
the final pact to be signed by
September.
British informants said all but
minor points had been agreed up
On.
When signed, the pact will be a
companion to the British Egyptian
agreement last year to let the
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Egypt's big
southern neighbor, determine for
itself by 1856 whether it will be-
come independent, join Egypt or
affiliate with the British Common
wealth.
The United States officially stood
aside in the Suez negotiations. But
throughout the talks us. AmbaS-
sador Jefferson Caffery kept in
close contact with both sides and
acted as a major consultant in
helping to work out compromises,
just as he had during the parleys
on the Sudan.
v. s. Urging
The State Department was
known to have urged Britain to
reach an agreement in order to
promote Arab cooperation with the
West, particularly in building Mid
die East defense against Commu-
mist aggression.
The British-Egyptian negoti-
atoms on the Suez opened April
q, 1858, but begged down several
times in what appeared to be
hopeless disagreement. A main
stumbling block was British in
sistence that some troops must re-
main behind in the canal zone to
keep the bases in working order.
AS a compromise, it was agreed
that the British would make con-
tracts with private British and
Egyptian companies to do the up
keep.
Points Of Plan
The preliminary pact embodies
these main points:
l. The final agreement will last
seven years. During the last IL
months, the two governments will
consult to work out future arrange
mentS.
2. British troops win withdraw
from their bases within 20 months