Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎142v] (286/978)

14
depended largely on the re-establishment
of international peace and order which the
U.S.S.R. was doing its best to prevent.
Accustomed as they are to criticise the
policy of the colonial Powers, such as that
of the French in Indo-China and that of
the Dutch in Indonesia, the Turks seem to
have been deeply impressed by the emer
gence of India and Pakistan. The Turkish
Government propose to send Ambassadors
to the two new Dominions shortly, hoping
no doubt to cultivate particularly close
relations with Pakistan as the nearer and
Moslem country, and to see both develop
as a counterpoise to the U.S.S.R.
As regards Egypt and Palestine, the
Turkish press has observed a discretion
which accords with the Government’s
desire, on the one hand, not to offend the
Egyptians or the Palestine Arabs, nor. ^
the other, to see any weakening of
Britain’s strategic position in the Middle
East.
THE MIDDLE EAST
Egypt
The growing unrest which has been
developing in Cairo over the outcome of
the Security Council’s decision came to a
head on the 22nd August when a demon
stration was staged by the Ikhwan al
Muslimin and the students of the al Azhar
University, led by Hassan al Banna. The
police intervened and were eventually
forced to open fire, allegedly over the heads
of the demonstrators. The total casualties
number eighty-three injured, forty demon
strators and forty-three members of the
police. Three of the injured demonstra
tors have since died and one policeman is
not expected to live. Twelve agitators
were arrested, although the press have
announced that their release, mostly with
out bail, has now been authorised. Hassan
al Banna, who is reported to have received
a hand wound in the clash, is still at large.
His wound did not, however, prevent him
from sending a telegram to the Security
Council on the day of the demonstration,
the text of which is as follows :—
“ Bleeding Cairo and the Egyptian
people in revolt denounce any decision
diminishing their rights, refuse to
resume bilateral negotiations, proclaim
the nullity of the 1936 Treaty and
appeal to the Security Council for the
maintenance of security in the Orient
which has been threatened.”
The next day, the party’s official organ,
Ikhwan al Muslimin, published the follow
ing appeal to the Egyptian people :—
“ Now that your strong and rising
national feeling has appeared on this
noble day, we hope that its resounding
echo wdll have reached the ears of those
who sit on the Security Council and that
international ambitions will not deafen
them to appreciation of the sacred
rights of peoples who are resolved to
live nobly or die a noble death. Let us
now wait calmly for the results of this
arbitration, after which the nation will
plan its course for the salvation and
winning of its right. Your martyrs
shall go to Paradise, your end shall be
victorious. God is greatest, praise be
to Him.”
Hassan al Banna’s demonstration
(which coincided with a lesser outbreak in
Alexandria) is likely to be the prelude to
further trouble. A few sporadic but minor
demonstrations occurred in Cairo on the
23rd August, and various bodies, including
the Young Men’s Moslem Association, the
Ikhwan al Muslimin, the Young Egypt
Party and the Constitutional Liberals,
decided to call a general strike on the
26th August—the anniversary of the sign
ing of the 1936 Treaty—and to organise a
mass meeting to denounce the Treaty.
However, in response to an appeal from
the Acting Prime Minister, the strike and
the demonstration were called off at the
last minute.
A disquieting factor at this time of
heightened tension is the steady spread of
Communist doctrine throughout the
country. The Democratic Movement for
National Liberation, which comprises the
two recently fused communist groups (see
Summary No. 402), has been circulating
pamphlets designed to stir up popular feel
ing against the Dutch for their suppressive
action in Indonesia, alleged to be backed
by Anglo-American imperialism, while the
passage of a Dutch military transport
through the Suez Canal en route for Indo
nesia was recently made the occasion for
anti-Dutch manifestations at Port Said.
Another indication of communist activity
is to be found in a pamphlet issued by dis
contented textile workers at Shoubra,
denouncing the Nokrashy Government as
the instrument of a capitalist regime.
Furthermore, the Communists are known
to be working actively among the youth
organisations and labour syndicates, and
may well exploit any further disorders for
general subversive purposes. There are
reports that the youth elements are now in