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But so far Farouk's intelligence has not been backed by sustained drive. From time to time he walks into cabinet meetings and presents some demand with the words: "I represent the people." He will sketch elaborate programs of social reform, but somehow nothing ever comes of them. Egypt's greatest needs—land reform and more industrialization—are nowhere near being met. He has personally made a groping effort to set matters right. Once he gave $10,000 to buy shoes for the barefooted. He has been known to listen to a workers' petition to redress their grievances, and last May, when Egypt started its social security system, the first in the Middle East, the King distributed the first books to the inhabitants of Cairo: inside each he had tucked a banknote for a sum that would support the aged poor for a few months.
Missing the Bus? Farouk has made attempts at Middle Eastern leadership. At war's end he sponsored the Arab League; when Ibn Saud balked at joining, Farouk himself dashed off to Saudi Arabia to convince the old King. But, largely because of the Arab world's disastrous defeat at the hands of the Israelis, the Arab League's importance has sharply declined. On the surface, Farouk's interest in foreign affairs has waned, but privately he talks with force and understanding about the Communist menace. He realizes that Egypt's future is with the West. While he has no choice but to allow his Foreign Minister to rant against the British, behind the scenes Farouk is working quietly to hold nationalism in check, to keep negotiations with the British going.
In Cannes recently the King talked with a U.S. pressagent about what might be done to make the King appear more likable to Americans. There are plenty of things Americans cannot be expected to like about Farouk. There are also plenty of things Farouk cannot be expected to like about the U.S.—notably its support of Israel and its superficial and insufficient policy in the Middle East. Current U.S. policy in Egypt consists of 1) a trickle of Point Four aid; 2) Fulbright fellowships; 3) a sort of passive collaboration with the British; 4) the hope that on his return from his honeymoon Farouk will buckle down to being a better King. With such a record the U.S. is in a bad position to criticize the King for not doing more.
Says an Egyptian editor: "The democracies seem intent on missing every bus. They missed the bus in Iran. Will we be getting a Harriman mission in Egypt when it is too late? There should be more than Harriman missions."