Foreign News: New Deal for Fellahin

For 5,000 years or more the status of Egypt's fellahin has been virtually unchanged—at the bottom of the heap. Last week brought them a ray of light: Egypt became the first Arab or Asiatic country with a social security plan. King Farouk himself distributed the first social security books. The plan provides a retirement pension (maximum amount: $85 a year) for all workers at the age of 65; special benefits for widows, orphans and the disabled—but not for the unemployed. Unlike Americans, Egyptians will get full benefits only if they have no other...