EGYPT'S DESTINY

A political autobiography by the man who led Egypt's recent revolution lends insight to the position of his country in the Middle East and the tactics that were employed to put it on the road towards self government. First, a backward glance at Egypt's recent history justifies the revolutionary measures. They had to be taken to end Farouk's corruption and British dictatorship, to further a chance of unity with the Sudan, and to lessen the kinds of mismanagement that led for example, to failure in the Palestinian war. Then, Naguib's record of his own life is that of a bright, steadfast soldier whose rise to the top echelons was a natural one. Though he attempted resignation once, Naguib was kept on by Farouk. Still later he was asked by the young Abd el Nasser and the Free Officers, to lead them, for Naguib was older, well known and had the personality to demand respect. The course of revolution is retold- the coup d'etat, the ""regretful but necessary"" purge, Farouk's disgrace and abdication, and then, the reasons for Naguib's resignation- the most salient being Nasser's one jump ahead in the plan to set up representative government. Naguib seems perfectly fair in acknowledging events as they were. He does not forget that Nasser asked him to lead in the first place. His thoughts do reflect an overbearing self confidence however, coupled with the conviction that Egypt's destiny will govern that of the Middle East. Read with an eye to the still unresolved progress of Egyptian history.