COURTESYREUTERS

ESSAY

January 1955 Issue

TheEgyptianRevolution
ByGamalAbdelNasser

105

ORacenturyandahal theArabworldhasbeenfollowinganegative
policy.Ithasknownwhatitwantedtodoawaywith,butithasnotknown
whatitwantedtobuild.TheWesternconquesto theMiddleEastwas
mentalnolessthanphysical.Overwhelmedandunsettled,Easternmindslost
almostallnationalvalues,yetcouldnotabsorbWesternvalues.Misapplicationof
Westernpatternso governmentbroughtaconfusedmixtureo politicalsystems
andphilosophies.Democracywasonlyaveilfordictatorship.Constitutionsframed
intheinteresto thepeopleo theMiddleEastbecameinstrumentsfortheir
exploitationanddomination.
Egypt'sstoryintheseyearscentersupontheeorttofreethecountryfroma
foreignyokeandtondapolicycapableo eradicatingtheevilsaccumulatedby
feudalismandcompoundedbymisuseo governmentalpower.Itwasalongand
painfulsearch.Egyptianshopedforleaderstochampiontheircauseanddefend
theirinterests,butpoliticiansandfactionsforthemostpartmadethemselves

subservienttotheforcesthatwereravagingthecountryBritishrulers,corrupt
monarchs,feudaloverlords,anonEgyptianrulingclassanditsEgyptiansatellites.
TheBritishhadoccupiedEgyptwiththetacitconsento KhediveTewk,great
uncleo exKingFarouk,followingthepatrioticrevoltledbyGeneralArabi.The
Khedive,whohadconcentratedallpowerinhisownhandsandusedittobenet
himsel andhisfamily,feignedacceptanceo thereformsdemandedbyArabi,while
openingthedoorstotheBritishwhosoughtapretexttojustifyanoccupationof
Egypt.In1882navalunitso theBritishFleetbombardedAlexandria,Egypt's
secondcapitalandthebiggestporto theMediterranean,andlandedtroops.These
troopsmetstubbornresistance.Theentiregarrisono GeneralArabi'smeninthe
Alexandriafortsdefendedtheirpositionstothelastman;butinthebattlesthat
ensued,Arabi'sarmywasdefeatedwiththeKhedive'sconnivance,andtheBritish
occupationbegan.
Therewereindignantprotests,internationalaswellasEgyptian,andtheBritish,
sensingthattheirstatuswasnotlegitimate,soonannouncedthattheoccupation
wasonlyatemporarymeasuretoachieveaparticularobjectivethereinstatement
o theKhedive.Inpointo facttheyintendedtostayindenitely,anddidso.They
alwayssaidtheywereonthepointo leaving,andalwaysfoundanexcusetostay.
AtrsttheyclaimedtheywereinEgypttoprotecttheforeignersagainstthe
Egyptians,althoughtheforeignersneveraskedfortheirprotection;thenthey
claimedtheyhadtostaytoprotecttheChristianandJewishminoritiesagainstthe
Moslems,overlookingthefactthattheChristiansandtheJewshadjoinedthe
Moslemsindemandingthewithdrawalo theBritishforcesfromEgypt.The
defenseo theSuezCanalandthemaintenanceo theirlineso communication
withIndiaandtheirFarEasternEmpirewerefurtherpretexts.WhenWorldWarII
cametheysaidtheycouldnotgobecausetheSuezCanalwasanimportantbase,
andafterWorldWarIItheyexplainedthattheyhadtostaytosafeguardthe
interestso thefreeworld.
Fromtheoutset,theBritishsappedthestrengthandthemoralenergieso Egypt.
TheydisbandedtheEgyptianArmyandcreatedatokenforcecommandedby
Britishocers.Britishadviserswereinstalledineverydepartmento government
andvestedwithpowertoexercisefullcontrol.Education,atthattimedeveloping
onanationalbasis,wasdisestablished.Itbecamethefunctiono theeducational
machinerytoproducegovernmentocialsdivorcedfromtheclaimso national

experience.Projectsforhighereducationwerealsodiscarded.Financialpolicy
impoverishedthecountry.TheEgyptianshadtopaythecosto occupationand
openthecountrytoBritishcompaniesandforeignagencies.Charteredmonopolies
dominatedtheEgyptianmarket.
Thissystemo foreignrulewasbuiltonthecorruptmonarchyandthefeudal
systemthathadbeeninstitutedunderMohammedAli,whoreignedfrom1805to
1849.Hehadtakenforhimsel anabsolutemonopolyo landandresources,treated
farmersasslaves,andcreatedanewfeudalclassformedbyhisownfamilyandhis
cliquecomposedmainlyo aliens.Thoseweregrantedlargeallotmentso landand
exemptedfromtaxation.Thismonopolisticsystemwasextendedtocommerceand
industry(withtheentiredestructiono freeenterpriseasaresult),andthemoney
thuscollectedwasnotusedforthenationalwelfarebutspentlavishlyonwars
servingMohammedAli'sownambition.Hencethecleavagebetweentheruling
familyandtheenslavedmasses,andtheseedso hatredthatgerminatedand
oweredthroughoutthereignso hissuccessors,Ibrahim,IsmailandTewk.Andit
wasthiscorruptandrapacioussystemthatwasfastenedupontheEgyptianpeople
whentheBritishintervenedtokeepTewkinpower.
Thoughtheabsolutestatemonopolyo landandcommercewaslaterdissolvedand
privateownershipandfreeenterprisewerepermitted,crushingtaxationwithheld
fromtheEgyptianfarmerthefruitso hislabor.Foreignbusiness,whichunderthe
systemo privilegesknownastheCapitulationsoperatedfreefromalltaxation,
easilydominatedtheemergingEgyptiancommercialclass.Thebankingsystemthat
hadbeenestablishedatthetimeo KhediveIsmailwasdesignedtoserveonlythe
interestso thevestedclass.Farmerswerecompelledtodealwithjobberswho
strainedtheirscantyresources.
Withtheendo theFirstWorldWar,however,therecamearemarkableriseinthe
priceso agriculturalproducts,andthisenabledthefarmerstorepayparto their
debtsandcultivatedierentsortso cropswhichcouldbedisposedo moreeasily.
Nonetheless,withthecomingo thenextworldwar,1,751,587Egyptianfarmers
ownedlessthanoneacre,and571,133farmersownedfromonetoveacres.Agreat
masso theagriculturalpopulationownednothing.Nordidthisstateo things
improvenoticeablyinthenexttenyears.In1950therewere618,860ownersof
parcelso landfromonetoveacresinsize,anincreaseo onlysome47,000.
Nowheredidtherulerso MohammedAli'sfamilydischargetheirobligationto

theirpeople.Humanactivityoperatesbetweenthetwopoleso rightand
obligationaprinciplewhichappliesultimatelytogovernorandgoverned.Itis
admittedthataman'sdutycorrespondstoarightforanother.Thegovernor,then,
issubjecttorightsandduties.Hisfailureinfulllinghisdutieswhicharerights
fromthestandpointo thepeopleentailsresistanceontheparto thenationto
securetheserights.
TheproblemsconfrontingtheEgyptiannationhavethusforalongperiodseemed
tofallintotwoparts:astrugglebetweenthenationanditsrulersononehand,and
astrugglebetweenthenationandforeigninterventionontheother.National
struggleagainstforeigninuencerelatesprimarilytothesovereigntyo thestate,
andderivativelytoliberatingthenancialandeconomicresourceso thestateand
administeringthemintheinteresto nationalreconstruction.
AndsotheEgyptiannationcarriedonthebattletondconstitutionalstability,
alongwithasecondbattleforsovereigntyandselfgovernment.Oneaspecto this
wasthestruggleforautonomyinnancialmatters,andbeyondthatforanincrease
inindividualandnationalincomesandaliftingo culturalandsocialstandards.The
problemwastorestorehumandignityinEgypt.
Throughouttheperiodnationalstruggleassumeddierentforms,somepacicand
somerevolutionary.Therstwasbasedonargumentandlogic,givingrisetothe
formationo politicalpartiesandthefoundingo newspapersandmagazinesto
enlightenpublicopinion.Butwheneverthenationunderstoodthatpeaceful
methodswouldnotavail,recoursewashadtoforce.SoEgypthadtopassthrough
threerevolutions:theArabirevotion,therevolutiono 1919andtherevolutionof
July1952.Anyrevolutionwhichfailstorealizeitsbasicobjectivesinevitablylays
theseedsforasubsequentuprising.Ournationalstrugglewasthereforeone
continualandunremittingbattle,despiteintermittentweaknesses.Alwaysthere
werethetwogreatobjectivestocheckdespotismandmakethenationitsel the
sourceo powers,andtoputanendtoforeigninterventionandtheusurpationof
Egypt'sresources.
In1936,atreatyprovidedfortheendingo Britishoccupation,butitalsorequired
apermanentagreementbetweenEgyptandBritainaprovisionverylikelytomean
permanentoccupation.After1936theBritishtooktheopportunityo party
frictionstorenewtheirinterventioninEgyptianaairs.Thethirsto partyleaders
afterpowerwasalsoutilizedbyKingFarouktorealizepersonalambitionsatthe

expenseo thevitalinterestso thepeople.Heclaimedexemptionsfromtaxation

andgotcontrolo thousandso acreso statepropertyandentailedland.Meritwas
nocriterionforrewards,norwasthereanyequalityo opportunity;privilegeswere
reservedforrelativesandfavoriteso ministersinpower.Theresultswerenepotism
andcorruption.Egypthadaworkingconstitution,butitveiledarbitraryrule.
WhenArabcountriesfelttheenthusiasmtorescuePalestine,theEgyptian
Govermentwasillpreparedforthetask.Mismanagementandcorruptionbythe
King'sclique,whichincludedtradingindefectivearms,renderedfruitlessthebitter
sacricesmadebytheEgyptianArmywhichwouldotherwisehavesecuredvictory.
Thewarrevealedtheextento evilswhichpervadedthecourtandgovernment,and
stirredthenationtoprotest.Anattemptwasmadetodiverttheattentiono the
massestoexternalissuesthekeytotheabolitiono the1936treaty.Itsabolition
wascertainlyconsonantwiththenationaldesire,andwouldhavebeenagenuinely
nationalachievementhadthegovernmenttakenthenecessarymeasureso reform
afterward.Itdidnot.Hencetheformationo "liberationcommandosquads."But
whiletheseoperatedintheCanalZone,therecametheshamelesslycontrived
burningo CairoonJanuary26,1952.Thecommandoswereparalyzedandthegap
betweenthegovernmentandthegovernedwidened.
II
Revolutionwastheonlywayout.Anditcamein1952,ledbythearmyandbacked
bythenation.Intheprerevolutionaryperiodthearmywasaninstrumentinthe
hando despoticrulerswhouseditagainstthenationalistmovements.Nowit
understooditspositionandjoinedtherankso thepeopletoheadthemovement
fornationalliberation.
Thisrevolution,itwillbeunderstood,hasbeenmarkedlybloodlessincharacter
becauseitisinessencetheexpressiono asentimentlongsuppressedbutharbored
inthehearto thenation.Itwaspurelynationalwithnointernationalintervention.
Consciouso thetrendo eventstofollow,itrealizeditsobjectiveswithinashorter
timethanexpected.ThenationhadswornallegiancetoMohammedAliinthe
attempttooverthrowtheruleo theMamelukes,butMohammedAliandhis
descendantsunfortunatelyforfeitedthisloyalty,embarkingondespoticenterprises
andusurpingtherightso thepeople.Thusitwasanunconditionalimperativethat
therevolutionshouldoverthrowtherulingdynasty,reclaimitsbirthrightand
restorethelostnationalprestige.SoitdeposedtheMonarch,abolishedmonarchy,

andestablishedtheEgyptianRepublic.
Astheprerevolutionarypubliclifehadgrowncorruptandeetethrough
tamperingwiththeconstitution,andasthepoliticalpartieshadjoinedinthe
despoticrulecontrarytotheinteresto thenation,itwasnecessarythatthe
revolutionshouldsuspendtheconstitution,dissolvepoliticalpartiesandframea
newconstitutionconsonantwiththenewnationalaspirations.Andbecausethe
governmentmachinerywascorrupt,ithadtobecleansedandreformed.
Sincenationalwealthwasinequitablydistributedandpredominantlyfeudalistic,
therevolutionenactedtheAgrarianReformBillwhichsetaceilingonland
ownershipandrent,andprovidedagainstthebreakingupo holdingsnotexceeding
veacres.Italsoregulatedtherelationbetweenlandlordandtenant,bylegalizing
certaintenantrights.TheAgrarianReformBoardisdistributingthesurplusareas,
togetherwiththelandconscatedfromMohammedAli'sfamily,amongthebulkof
poorpeasants.ThisLandReformBillwas,inthemain,designedtoliberatethe
bulko peasantsfromthefeudalismwhichwasacorollaryo thesystemo land
tenure.
Asthemajorconcerno therevolutionwastherealizationo statesovereignty,it
wasimperativethattheBritishforcesshouldbeevacuatedentirely.
Therevolutionalsohadadeniteprogramforreconstruction.Itbegantodevelop
thepotentialresourceso thecountry,settingupthenationalBoardo Production
chargedwithplanningnationalproductivityandoutliningthenewpolicyo large
scaleindustrialization.ItrestablishedtheIndustrialBank,themainobjectivesof
whicharetoaidemergingindustries,consolidatethosealreadyexistingandprovide
technicalaid.
Theprerevolutionarybalanceo tradewasunfavorabletoEgypt.Theinternal
market,andtoalargerextenttheexternalone,weredominatedbyBritish
inuence.TherevolutionhadtoliberatetheEgyptianeconomyfromBritish
control.Economicmissionsweredispatchedtoforeigncountriestondnew
marketsforEgyptianproduce,andthegovernmentadoptedabarterpolicyof
exchangingcottonformachinery,equipmentandotherneededcommodities.
III
ThenewrgimeinEgypthasaclearcutpolicyforrebuildingthecountryonnew

foundationsanintegrated,threeprongeddevelopment,nowonthewayto
execution.Someo itsactivitiesmaybementionedhere,notinanattempttoset
forththeprograminfull,butonlytooerexamples.
TheprincipalprojectistheSaddel'Ali(HighDam)scheme,designedmainlyto
increaseagriculturaloutputbyalmost50percent.Egypt'spresentagriculturalland
totals6,000,000acres.TheHighDamwillreclaim2,000,000moreandwillsupply
waterforthepermanentriceplantationo 700,000acres,andconvertanother
700,000acreso onecroplandinUpperEgypttoperennialirrigation.Builtabout
fourmilessoutho AswanDam,200milesnortho theSudanborder,thegiant
damwillbeconstructednotasaconventionalstonewallbutapyramidalgranite
rockeldalmosthalfakilometerthick.Itwillbe150metershigh,anditsreservoir
willcover3,000squarekilometersthehighestdamandthelargestreservoirinthe
world.Constructionisexpectedtobeginearlyin1955,andtheschemewilltaketen
yearstocomplete.Itwillcost$516,000,000.TheSaddel'Aliwillincreasenational
productionby$450,000,000ayear,andwilladdanannualgovernmentrevenueof
$60,000,000.
Pendingconstructiono theHighDam,wehavedraftedshortrangeplansforthe
expansiono cultivatedland.Thechie itemisafouryearplan,from1952to1956,
toreclaim311,680acresinUpperandLowerEgypt.Thisincludeda10,000acre
nucleusforthenewTahrir(Liberation)Province,situatedintheWesternDesert
alongsidethewesterndeltabranch,betweenCairoandAlexandria.Thetotalplan
coversanareao 600,000acresinall,andfutureexpansionmaywelldoublethis
area.
Thereisasecondplantoreclaim50,000acresinthenorthwesttipo theSinai
peninsulaforthebeneto thePalestinerefugees.Waterwouldbetunnelled
underneaththeSuezCanaltoirrigatethisarea.Theplanwouldbenancedbythe
UnitedNations.Inathirdplan,stillundersurvey,itishopedtoreclaim100,000
acresbymeanso artesianwells.Theprojectwouldbeundertakenthroughthejoint
eortso theEgyptianGovernmentandtheUnitedStatesPointFourprogram.
Apartfromincreasingtheextento cultivatedland,wearealsosteppingup
agriculturalproductionperacre.TheAgrarianReformProgramhasalready
increasedtheyieldo aectedareas.Asthepeasantsbecomeownerso theirland,
theyproducemoreperacre;forexample,theyieldinthesugarcanebeltinUpper
Egyptincreasedfrom733to908kantarsperacre.Ruralcoperativesocietieshave

beencreatedwhichprovidethenewsmalllandownerwithwater,fertilizers,pure
seed,livestock,technicaladviceandotherfacilities.AndtheMinistryof
Agriculturehastakenmeasurestocombatpests,increaselivestock,supplyseeds,
andstepupdairyingandotheragriculturalindustries.
Inourintegratedreformpolicy,variousagriculturalprojectswillcontributetoward
industrialdevelopment,andindustrialprojectswillcontributetowardagricultural
expansion.Forinstance,theSaddel'Alischemewillprovidehydroelectricpower
forindustry,whilethefertilizerfactorieswilladdtothefertilityo thesoil.The16
turbineswillgeneratetenbillionkilowatthourseveryyear,andtheneighboring
AswanDamwillshortlybeproducinganothertwobillionkilowatthoursannually.
Besideshydroelectricpower,wearealsoexpandingtheexploitationo ouroil
resourcestothemaximum.TherstmovewastorevisetheMiningLawwhichhad
restrictedtheoperationo foreigncompaniesinEgyptatatimewhenlocal
capacitiesfortheworkwereextremelylimited.Therestrictionshavebeenremoved
andthetransferabroado thecompanies'protsandcapitalisnowpermitted.
Concessionsarebeinggrantedtoforeignoilcompanies.Thelargest,giventothe
EgyptianAmericanOilCompany,covers75,000squaremilesintheWestern
Desert.OtherconcessionshavebeengivenintheEasternDesertandtheSinai
Peninsula.Moreover,whileexistingoilwellsattheRedSeacoasthaveincreased
theiroutput,thecapacityo thegovernmentoilreneryatSuezhasbeenraised
from300,000to1,300,000tonsannually.WearealsobuildingaSuezCairo
pipelinetoreduceoiltransportationcosts.
Thelargestplantinourblueprintsisafertilizerfactory,tobeworkedontheAswan
Damhydroelectricpowerwhichwillbeavailablein1958.Itwillcost$72,000,000,
andwillproduce375,000tonso calciumnitratesannually.WhentheSaddel'Ali
schemestartsproducinghydroelectricpower,outputwillbeincreasedto500,000
tonsayear.Thesecondbiggestplantisanironandsteelworks,alreadybeing
constructedatHelwan,nearCairo,bytheGermanrmo Demag.Thisplant,
costing$45,000,000,marksEgypt'sentryintotheeldo heavyindustry;itwill
takefouryearstocomplete,andwillturnout240,000tonso steelproductsevery
year.TheironoredepositsatAswanarerichsucient,itisestimated,tosupply
Egypt'ssteelindustryfor500years.
Afewotherprojectsmaybementioned:apaperplantwithanannualoutputof
20,000tonso writingandprintingpaper,otherthannewsprint,tousesugarcane

bagasseandricestraw(availablelocallyinlargequantities)andtostartproduction
in1957;abeetsugarfactorywithanannualcapacityo 50,000tons,costing
$15,000,000andstartingproductionattheendo 1955;afactory,nowunder
construction,toturnout200,000tiresayearatthebeginning,withlaterincreases
tomeetlocalrequirementsandpermitsomeexport;andajuteplantwithacapacity
o 20,000tonsayear,tocostabout$6,000,000.Inadditiontobolsteringthe
IndustrialBank,thegovernmenthasadoptedothermeasurestohelpprivate
industry,suchastheimprovemento internalcommunications,temporary
protectivetaris,reducedcustomsonimportedmachinery,andtheencouragement
o foreigncapital.Itisexpectedthattheagrarianreformprogramwillalsoswitcha
majorparto thenation'scapitalfromagriculturetoindustry,asbiglandownersare
givencompensationfortheirestatesintheformo bondswhichcanbeinvestedin
industrialprojects.
Theincreaseo agriculturalandindustrialoutputwillrequirenewoutletsinforeign
markets.Egyptsueredaforeigntradedecito $225,000,000in1952,andatotal
decitinthetenyearsbeforetherevolutiono morethan1.5billiondollars.The
revolutionarygovernmentwasabletoovercomethischronicforeigntradedecit,
andtoshowaproto $43,000,000bytherstquartero 1954,ando $61,000,000
bythesecondquartero thesameyear.
Thisachievementtookstrenuouseortsathomeandabroad.Athome,corrupt
governmentinterferencewithcottonprices,whichhadresultedinthemedium
staplecottonfetchinghigherpricesthanthelongstaplecategories,waseliminated.
TheCottonFuturesMarket,throughwhichthepriceshadbeenmanipulated,was
closed,andEgyptiancottonpricestiedupwiththoseo theUnitedStates.The
eliminationo illicitpracticesrestoredcondenceabroadinEgypt'scottontrade.
Tradepolicieswerebasedontheprinciplethatpoliticsshouldbekeptseparate
fromeconomics.WemadenodistinctionbetweenWestandEastinsellingcotton,
andtradeandpaymentsagreementswereconcludedwithEasternandWestern
countriesalike.Cottonisthebackboneo Egypt'seconomy.Wewereableto
disposeo thehugecarryoverso crops.
Toimprovethetradebalancewealsohadtocutdownnonessentialimports,andto
restrictimportsfromcountrieswithwhichwehadnotconcludedtradeagreements.
Withthecompletiono plansforagricultureandindustrialexpansion,weshallbe
abletoreduceourimportso foodstusandmanufacturedgoods.Thesewill

includechieywheat,oilandhouseholdarticles.Thesesavingswillnotonly
improveEgypt'stradebalance,butalsopreservepreciousearningsinhardcurrency.
IV
ThethreeprongedpolicytorebuildEgypt'seconomyonsolidfoundationshasone
objectinview:toraisethestandardo livingamongthemasseso thepeople.The
Egyptianpeasantisnolongerthevirtualser o biglandowners,buthisown
master.Theagrarianreformprogramhasresultedinasubstantialincreaseinhis
realincome.TheEgyptianworkerisalsogettinganewdeal.Inmanycaseshis
wagesaredeterminedbyjointcommitteesincludingrepresentativesof
management,laborandgovernment.Wagesvaryaccordingtomanyfactors,
includingthekindo work,theworkers'familystatus,andtheareainwhichhe
works,butinallcaseshiswagesaremadeashighastheinterestso industrial
expansionallow.
Topromotethewelfareo themasses,thegovernmentundertookavastprogramof
socialservices.About$200,000,000isallocatedinthecurrentbudgetforprojects
forsocialreform.Socialwelfareunitsarebeingestablishedintheruralareas,each
unittoserve15,000inhabitants,andtoincludeaschool,ahealthcenteranda
socialagriculturalextensionsection.Oureortistoprovideallruraldistrictswith
socialservicesinthenextveyears;200centerswereopenedin1954.Bytheend
o thetenyearsrequiredforcompletiono ourmostambitiousscheme,Saddel'Ali,
webelieveweshallhavemorethandoubledEgypt'snationalincome,witha
correspondingincreaseinthenation'sstandardo living.Incidentally,inonestepto
helpremedythesocialstraticationwhichhassplitEgyptiansocietyintohostile
camps,titlesandhonorsprinces,pashasandbeys,markso aprivilegedclasswere
abolished.
These,then,aretheaimso therevolution:toendtheexploitationo people,to
realizenationalaspirationsandtodevelopthematurepoliticalconsciousnessthatis
anindispensablepreliminaryforasounddemocracy.Therevolutionseekstobridge
thegul betweensocialclassesandtofosterthespirito altruismwhichmarksa
cultivatedindividualandacohesivegroup.OurultimateaimistoprovideEgypt
withatrulydemocraticandrepresentativegovernment,notthetypeof
parliamentarydictatorshipwhichthePalaceandacorrupt"pasha"classimposedon
thepeople.Inthepast,parliamentwasabodyforblockingsocialimprovement.We
wanttomakesurethatinthefuturethesenatorsanddeputieswillserveallthe

Egyptiansratherthanafew.
Toachievetheseaims,thestandardo livingo themassesmustberaised,
educationexpandedandsocialconsciousnessdevelopedthroughoutthelandsothat
thepeoplewillunderstandthedutiesandprivilegeso citizenship.Thenationmust
alsobeprovidedwithaconstitutionthatsafeguardstheinterestso allgroups.
Duringthepastyearacommissioncomposedo leadersindierenteldso lifein
Egypt,andrepresentativeo thedierentfaithsChristianity,JudaismandIslam
hasbeendraftingournewconstitution.
Asweplanforthefuture,wehavealsohadtocleanoutthecorruptpast,especially
thesubversiveorreactionarygroupswhichhavespreadtheirtentacleswideinthe
land.Thegreatestinternalenemieso thepeoplearetheCommunistswhoserve
foreignrulers,theMoslemBrotherhoodwhichstillseeksrulebyassassinationinan
erathathasoutlivedsuchpractices,andtheoldtimepoliticianswhowouldliketo
restablishexploitation.
ReactionaryreligiousgroupssuchastheMoslemBrotherhoodareneither
genuinelypoliticalnorgenuinelyreligious.Theirultimateaimispowerandto
realizeittheyadoptmethodscontrarytothespirito Islamandthespirito the
age.Islamderivesfromacomprehensivephilosophywhichneverfailsto
accommodatevarioushumanfeelingsandaspirations.Inthissenseitisnotonly
humanitarianbutelasticandtolerant.Ithasitsubiquitousprinciplesapplicableto
timeandplaceandmindfulo therightso man.Itcondemnsintolerance,
terrorism,prejudiceandorganizedhatred.Itsteachingsformthecoreo true
democracy.
Weareproudthatourrevolutionhasbeenbloodless.Wehaveridourselvesof
corruptpoliticians,acorruptkingandanoutmodedmonarchywithoutlosso life.
Wehavehadtoimposerestrictionstopreventenemieso thepeoplefrom
exploitingthepeopleandpoisoningtheirminds.Buti wehavehadtoexerciseour
authority,ithasbeeninordertopavethewayforabetterlifeforthemenand
womeno ourcountry.Wewanttolifttheserestrictionsassoonaswefeelthe
peoplearenolongerindangerfromsuchgroupsandthesoonerthattimecomes
thebettersofarasweareconcerned.
V
AclosingwordaboutEgypt'sforeignrelations:despiteallreportstothecontrary

byenemieso theArabworld,theArabLeagueisareality.Therearesocialand
economicdierencesbetweenoneArabnationandanother,justasthereare,for
example,amongthenationso theWesternEuropeanUnion,butbythesametoken
wehavemoreincommonthanthevariousEuropeannationswhichhopetowork
together.Thenationso theArabLeaguebelievethattheycanuniteinaforcethat
contributestothecauseo worldpeace.
Eortstounitehavebeenblocked,tosomeextent,bylocaldierencesanddynastic
rivalries,andtoagreaterextentbyoutsideforcesconspiringagainstus.Butthe
Leaguecanbemadetheinstrumentthroughwhichagreaterunitycanbeachieved
amongtheArabnationsineveryeldo activity.Itsmemberstatescanforman
eectiveforceforthedefenseo thisarea.Throughoutthenegotiationsforthe
evacuationo BritishtroopsfromtheSuezCanal,theGovernmento Egypthas
pointedoutthatthisevacuationwillnotcreateamilitary"vacuum"intheMiddle
Eastbutwillpavethewayforstrengtheningthearea'sdefenses.
Thedefenseo theMiddleEastmustrestprimarilywiththeinhabitantso the
area.Nooutsideforcescandefendthissoilaseectivelyasthepeoplewholive
here.ThatiswhyEgypthasmadeeveryeorttostrengthentheArabLeague's
CollectiveSecurityPact.Itisthebestpossiblesystemtodefendourparto the
worldagainstanypossibleaggression.
Overacenturyago,Egypt,withlessthanhal herpresentpopulation,hadanarmy
o morethan200,000.Thereisnoreasonwhythe70,000,000Arabscouldnotbuild
upanarmyo severaldivisionsforthedefenseo theirlands.Ourcountriespossess
greatpotentialwealth,nottospeako theoilforwhichourdesertsarefamous.
Thoseo ourArabbrethrenwhohavebeengiventhechanceo educationhave
provedtobenolesscapablethananyotherpeopleintheworld.Westilllack
development,butindustrializationwillincreaseourcapabilities.
Inthemeantime,webelievethatallthosemoredevelopedPowerswhobelievein
peaceshouldandwillhelpustostrengthenourselvesagainstaggression.Starting
withtheCollectiveSecurityPactasthebasisforourowndefense,wecanconsider
onceithasbeenadequatelyimplementedcordinatingourdefenseplanswith
thoseo anyothernationinterestedindefenseagainstaggressioninthisarea.

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Theobjectionhasoftenbeenmadethati theArabsweretoreceivemilitary
assistancetheywouldimmediatelyattackIsrael.Egyptiansfeelthatagreatinjustice
wascommittedagainsttheArabsgenerally,andespeciallyagainstthemillionor
morePalestinianArabswhoarenowrefugees.Israel'spolicyisaggressiveand
expansionist,andIsraelwillcontinueherattemptstopreventanystrengtheningof
thearea.However,wedonotwanttostartanyconict.Warhasnoplaceinthe
constructivepolicywhichwehavedesignedtoimprovetheloto ourpeople.We
THE EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION
havemuchtodoinEgypt,andtheresto
theArabworldhasmuchtodo.Awar
Gamal Abdel Nasser
wouldcauseustolose,ratherthangain,mucho
whatweseektoachieve.
Wieland van Dijk
SUBSCRIBE
Inotherquarterstherehasbeentalko "Communistinltration"inthevarious
ArabandAfricannationalistmovements.ItwouldbeunwisefortheUnitedStates
totakethatviewo nationalistactivities,ledbysincerepatriotswhoseonlydesireis
toseetheirnationsfreefromforeigndomination.Americansrecognizethistobe
theinalienablerighto everyman,yetbalkatsupportingthesenationalistsforfear
o annoyingsomecolonialPowerthathasrefusedtomovewiththetimes.Itisthis
procrastinationthatgivestheCommuniststhechancetotakeoverwhatusually
startasgenuinelypatrioticmovements.Suchwasthecaseo IndoChina.
TherewouldnotbeanyCommunistinltrationinanyparto theMiddleEastand
Africai theUnitedStatescoulddevelopacourageouspolicyandtheonlymorally
correctoneo supportingthosewhoareanxioustogetrido foreigndomination
andexploitation.Realindependencewouldbethegreatestdefenseagainst

Communistoranyothertypeo inltrationoraggression.Freemenarethemost
fanaticaldefenderso theirliberty,nordotheylightlyforgetthosewhohave
championedtheirstruggleforindependence.

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