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But there could be no peace between the fundamentally progressive, Western-influenced Naguib regime and the West-hating, reactionary Brotherhood. Either Nasser would crush the Brotherhood or be crushed by it. Last June the revolutionary regime got word that Brotherhood agents were inflaming dissident police and army men, to prepare a coup.
One day last week, on the campus of Cairo University, came the open conflict that could no longer be avoided. As Brotherhood students held memorial services for members killed battling the British in the Canal Zone two years ago, an army jeep rolled in, broadcasting pro-regime slogans. In a few moments Egypt's two great rival movements faced each other in battle order on the college grounds. Brotherhood students rushed forward, overturned the jeep and set it afire. Guns cracked and 20 fell wounded.
That night, the Revolutionary Council, in urgent session, made its decision. By the next day Supreme Guide Hodeiby and the rest of the Ihkwan leaders were seized and crowded into a tightly guarded Alexandria army barracks. The charge: plotting against the government and negotiating with the British. ("Complete nonsense," snapped the British embassy.)
How would the public take this forthright action? Two days later, the regime's pipe-smoking front man, President-Premier Naguib, walked into a Cairo mosque for Friday prayers. He was wildly cheered.