Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-01
News-Hungry Reporters
Find Egyptions Boiling
BY RICHARD FRYKLUND
Foreisn Correspondent Of The Star

By RICHARD FRYKLUND
Foreign Correspondent Of The Star
CAIRO Sept. 1.-Seldom has
an international group of jour-
naliSts had more fun or gathered
less news than the scores of re-
porters here to cover the Suez
conference.
It's not that they aren't trying
to gather news-it'S only that a
scoop-hungry horde Of Western
newsmen has descended on a
country unprepared to handle
them. The result is a meager
outflow of news.
Exciting rumors abound: War
is imminent; we're all going to
be interned by the Egyptians; so
and so from the Daily WhatSit
is positively about to be arrested
for spying; the American EN-
baSsy is about to evacuate all
American reporters; this room is
full of Nasser spies; all your
stories are censored.
It's all good clean fun, and
no one believes the rumors he
helps spread. After all, it's
better than doing nothing.
Example Of Difficulties
Let me hasten to explain that
reporters do their best. Take
my experience yesterday.
called the Ministry Of In
formation for an appointment
with the top man, Col. Hatem.
A voice said the colonel's Sec
Rotary was out and to try later.
I tried later, and later still. No
secretary, much less the colonel.
went to the colonel'S Office
and introduced myself to the
man at the secretary's desk. He
cordially invited me to sit down.
After an hour, he left and a
new secretary came in. ex-
planned my mission all over
again. He delivered my request
for a chat to the colonel.
The colonel obviously was
busy. as a steady stream of
Egyptians flowed in and out of
his Office.
was snilingly invited to talk
to a subordinate and then re-
turn. The subordinate's Office
was full of English, American,
French and Egyptian visitors, and
I was invited to join the group.
Most of the visitors seemed to be
there just for relaxation. They
would come in, sit down, say
hello. chat with other friends
and leave.
Subordinate Is Helpful
The subordinate, talking into
two phones at once, invited me
to ask him questions.
said I had quite a few. I
was introduced to several jour-
|nalists. Found myself in a three
language discussion on Egyptian
food and a local disease called,
charmingly. "gippy tummy."
I broke up the roundtable long
enough to ask my first question.
I was told the answer involved
high government policy and
needed a more authoritative
answer-like Col. Hatem. Il
asked If he could use his in
fiuence to get me in to see the
colonel.
That set of a language dis
cussion of the colonel's crowded
visitor calendar.
Phones rang. Guests came
and went. Coffee and cigarettes
were offered all around. The
subordinate couldn't nave been
Ia more charming host.
1 excused myself, promised
several new friends to see them
later in the evening and went
back to the colonel's Office.
The colonel was buster. the
waiting line longer. ! passed on
my best wishes to the colonel
and headed out into the night
toward my hotel.
I had no trouble getting an
Egyptian answer to my questions
at the bar-British, American,
French, German and Egyptian
brass-rail experts had all the
answers.
Parties Spy's Questions
/ was warned by q friendly
Britisher that Egyptian spies
abounded in the bar. He pointed
one out. saying he had been
cross-examining foreign report
ers all evening.
I introduced myself to the spy
and asked him how he thought
the conference would come out.
He asked me what I thought Of
the Egyptian position. / asked
him what he thought Of 1t. He
insisted he had asked first.
traordinary amount Of question:
troardinary amount Of question:
ing by strangers. And news Isl
hard to come by.
The lack Of ohicial information
seems to stem more from unfa-
miliarity with modern press han