CABINET POSTS IN EGYPT

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26671, 4 March 1952, Page 7

CABINET POSTS IN EGYPT

New Premier States Government Aims

CAIRO, March 2. The new Egyptian Prime Minister and Military Governor-General (Naguib Hilaly Pasha) who took office after the sudden resignation of Aly Maher Pasha on Saturday night, today announced his Cabinet, which he said was pledged to free Egypt of political corruption and achieve the , evacuation of British troops and the unity of Egypt and the Sudan. The Prime Minister announced his Government’s aims in a letter to King Farouk, which contained a severe attack on corruption in public life. Hilaly Pasha and his Finance Min- ■ ister (Dr. Mohammed Zaki Abdel Bey) have both been expelled from the Wafdist Party. Aly Maher Pasha told King Farouk in a letter that he resigned because "obstacles were placed in the path of my mission.” He did not specify the obstacles. Hilaly Pasha’s letter said: “In my new task I feel that the realisation of our national aims rests upon the re* storatlon of order and the elimination of corruption. I swear before Allah that I shall spare no effort to secure those demands. "Corruption has penetrated into our political life to such a degree that some use it as a vulgar trade which they regard as a means of getting rich without regard to decency. Power, therefore, is exercised in an atmosphere of distrust while Parliamentary seats are sold by auction. For this reason it is essential that political lite be reorganised on a new and sounder basis.

“I shall not hesitate, together with my colleagues, to support the legal authorities, and we shall work to give a new impetus to our great traditions of justice. There can be no place for favouritism or nepotism in the affairs Of the country and in Government posts Which haVe become the prerogatives of relatives ahd friends. “My alm, and that of my colleagues, will be to put things in their proper place on the basis of competence, efficiency, and honesty.’ Letter Of Resignation The letter of resignation from Aly Maher Pasha said: "I was named as the head of the Government st « critical time to re-establish Order and stability and pave the way for the realisation of Egypt’s national aims. I was able to promote national unity, patriotic collaboration, and create a suitable atmosphere for the agreement demanded by the nation's interest. and made it possible for the Government to announce that it would start it-’-fsive steps to realise the Jiigher into sof the country. But I feel that ob taeles were placed ih the path of my mission, which was to realise the wishes of your Majesty for the benefit of the people in their foreign relations, end in domestic aims which are the Uprooting of corruption, restoring the situation to nonhal, creating, prosperity, raising the standard of living, and alleviating the hardship of all cititens. For this reason I tender my resignation.” King Farouk, in his letter inviting Hilaly Pasha to form a Government, wrote: “Our dear country in this phase of its life looks to capable and sincere meh to devote their energies to its progress, the repairing of Government machines, and ffie increase of its prosperity in addition to the realisation of its aspirations and objectives unfhimously agreed.” The new Ministers were at their offices early to-day. Hilaly Pasha has selected what is generally considered to be a well-balanced Cabinet.

* Hilaly Pa's ha* 1 " the Min- / Ister, is 59, and is a married man with two children. He has the reputation of being an independent thinker and an "honest politician.” He comes of a wealthy family and was fprmerly professor of law at Cairo University. .He has been Minister of Education three times,, in 1934. 1937, and 1942. He was ?. sk ed to join the Cabinet when the Wafa Party swept into power at the feFused election in Ja uuary, 1951, but The principal portfolios in the new Cabinet ate:— Foreign Minister.—Abd el Khalel Hassuha. ®. r „ JwUee. _ Mohamed Kamel Moutsi Pasha. Minister of Finance and Economy. —Dr. Mohamed Zaki Abd el Motaal I oey. Minister of the Interior and War. —Ahmed Mortada el Mareghi Bey. Hassuna Pasha is a former Cabinet Minister. He served as Foreign Undersecretary of State in several Governments. Motaal Bey is a “financial wizard" who held the same portfolio in the outgoing Government. Maraghi Bey held the same key posiw”? °* “ lterio r and War In Aly ' Gownment. He is th* “iron Hand Minister. He said to-day: “We are determined to clear the country of all undesirable elements.”