Friend of the West

During the days when Egypt was trying to negotiate the British out of the Suez, the ten-man Revolutionary Command Council that rules Egypt indicated that it might listen to the Kremlin's siren song. But now that the British have agreed to quit the Suez and the U.S. has promised $80 million in aid, Egypt's young military junta sent a statement to all foreign correspondents in Cairo. Its gist; Egypt regards itself as a friend to the West, though it is unwilling to join a defense alliance.

Said the official "background paper'': "Egypt's culture, trade and economic life are linked to the West. Ideologically, Egypt is outspokenly against Communism. Militarily, Egypt considers that the only possible global danger to the Middle East is an invasion from Russia."

But, continued Egypt's rulers, they dared not take Egypt into a defensive alliance so soon after 72 years of British occupation, lest it seem that they had again surrendered Egypt's hard-won independence. However, after "a period of complete independence, during which mutual trust is built up between Egypt and the Western powers, Egyptians will be able to look without suspicion on any closer ties [with] other powers."

None of this appeared in the local press. In fact, when the statement leaked out, all Cairo's morning newspapers printed a statement from Premier Gamal Abdel Nasser denying it. To add to the confusion, foreign correspondents were then told to ignore the denial, which was only for "home consumption."

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