Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-30
THEY LOVE HIM NOW
Suez Move Builds
Nosser's Popularity

early days of his revolution--that
OF a "Reminiscences conspirator.
It was after he entered the army
as a second lieutenant that he per-
fected his role as conspirator. While
fighting on the GAIA front during
the Palestine War of 1913 he pulled
together that clique Of officers
known as the Free Officers Move
ment which later overthrow King
Farouk.
Mr.. Nasser kept himself in the
background of the revolution, en-
phasized collective leadership and
stressed the movement rather than
personalities. 1t was long after
the revolution before even close
comrades knew he was indisputable
leader Of their movement.
Eventually, cham of circum-
stances climaxed by his election to
the presidency last June brought
Mr.. Nasser to the center of the
stage.
His election to the presidency
produced new personal crisis. He
had to face up to the task of win
nlng the support of his own people.
He had remained in a soldiers
uniform ruling unofficially: now
he was in a blue civilian suit ask
ing to be accepted as a civilian
president.
In spite of all his efforts to the
contrary, Mr.. NasSer had made
many enemies within his country
in his climb to power. Also, he
lacked the personal warmth to
charm crowds and win popularity.
He is a clumsy speaker and
suffers from stage fright. AL
though a big man (6 feet, 200
pounds) possessing endless cour-
age. he quails at having to face
crowds.
In personal contacts, Mr.. Nasser
is different man. He has an I'M
canny ability to draw out a per-
son he meets. to pick his brains for
information. He speaks English
with heavy accent and does it
with boyish sincerity that rarely
fails to charm.
In conversation, he sometimes
breaks into a shrill laugh and mar
rows his eyes to Sits in a way that
makes him look like a handsome
demon.
If Nasser could talk individually
to every person in the world for
five minutes a week. he would win
over us ALL" Western diplomat
once said.
But ne was prophet lacking
honor in his own country-until
July IS.
On that day, Mr.. Nasser found
the formula for success. He ma
tionalized the Suez Canal Co.
He announced the nationalist
ton in a speech at Alexandria. On
his return to Cairo he heard the
spontaneous applause of his people
for the first time. 1t took him more
than two hours to drive through
the mobS the few blocks from the
railway station to the Presidents
quarters.
Fear Bod Reaction
There are some observers who
fear that this response may mean
Mr.. Nasser'S eventual undoing,
however. They fear the public re-
Spouse to the Suez naturalization
may. encourage him to engage in
rash ventures.
After centuries of foreign domina-
ton, Arab nationalism is apt to be
negative and destructive. The Arabs
primarily are against" the West
and the leader who can hit the
West hardest is the most popular.
Mr.. NasSer's friends insist he has
not become more anti-Western than
he was in the early days of the revo-
luton. They say the West simply
has pushed him further away. They
sum it up like this:
The West refused to give him
arms for defense against Israel, so
he turned to the Soviet bloc. The
West drew Iraq into the Baghdad
pact against his violent opposition.
And. finally. Britain and the United
States Withdrew their offers to f.
nance the Aswan Dam and he took
over the canal as source of capital
for the dam.
He knows the British and French
are out to get him" He knows that
if these powers choose to use force
it will be the end of Canal Abdel
NaSser.
But to this threat. he simply re-
plies: According to the Koran that
would not be an inglorious end"
(The Associated Press)