GLOATING NOW BUT WHAT OF LATER?

Chronicle (Levin), 1 May 1947, Page 6

GLOATING NOW BUT WHAT OF LATER?

BRITISH WITHDRAWAL AND EGYPT'S INTERESTS Received Wednesdav, 7 p.m. LONDON, April 30. The Times' Cairqilcprr1esp1cmdpnj/1^y,s j it is now a month since the last British troops evacuated the Nile Delta and some results are already noticeable. The predominant feeling is satisfaetion at the departure of foreign unifornis cspccially from the symbolic Ivasr-el-Nil barracks in the heart of Cairo. The security authorities are naturally relieved at the disappearance of the rislts of clashes arising from motor transport accidents and incidents in bars, even with the best behaved troops. Some Egyptians believe the evacuation was the fulfilment of a promise but otliers claim it was forced on the British who, thereforc, were entitled to no credit. Such regret as exists among tlic Egyptians at the British withdrawal is confined to_ those who have lost their employment, perhaps 250,000 labourers or artisans and their dependants. Alany small restaurants and bars which sold eggs, chips, beer — and often less salubrious drinks — to the trodps have closed and shopkeepers in the famous Muslti bazaar, once Jthron8'ed with soldiers and their families, are as idle as the guides and camelmen at the^ Sphinx and Pyramids. Agitation against the employment of foreigners is fairlv strong and many Europeans believe legislation now before the Egyptian Parliament will make ii difficult for non-Egyptians to earn r livelihood in Egypt. Others point ou. that such laws exist in other countries and that should they prove injurious to Egyptian interests, they will probably be modified. Alany Egyptians know that in certain fields they still lack experience and specialised knowledge and I are not eagcr to cut off their nose to( spitc their face. The pull is now between common scnse and national ism, between realism and exultation at the termination of 65 years of occupation. Nationalism ac the moment is at the wicket but common sense will eventually have its himngs.