Time Inc. Editor in Chief Hedley Donovan and TIME Managing Editor Henry Anatole Grunwald recently interviewed Egypt's President Garnal Abdel Nasser on problems and policies in the Middle East. The meeting took place in Nasser's relatively modest stucco home in Cairo's Manshiet al Bakri district. As birds chirped in the garden, Nasser, tanned and looking fit, entered the room wearing a white sport shirt and brown slacks. He spoke readily in a soft voice and, when amused, broke into a boyish giggle and slapped his thigh. Typically, he was more restrained in private with foreign listeners than he is in public exhorting the Arab masses. In three important areas—demilitarization of Sinai, a non-aggression treaty with Israel and recognition of Israel —Nasser offered new thoughts and embellishments on old ones. Some of the questions, and Nasser's answers:
What are the prospects of a Mideast settlement?
It has been almost two years since the occupation of Sinai, and there is continuing occupation. We have agreed to a peaceful solution, implementing the 1967 Security Council resolution. Until now, Israel has not accepted it. She says she will not leave the occupied areas until we sit down with her to talk peace. But we refuse to sit. It is not called for in the Security Council resolution. If we sit now, we sit as defeated people, sitting only to capitulate. This we cannot do.
Are you satisfied with your military performance along the Suez Canal?
Yes. The Israelis want us to respect the cease-fire resolution, but they do not respect the other resolution about withdrawal. If a big part of your country is occupied by enemies, you can wait a reasonable time for withdrawal. But the people are asking us to liberate the Sinai. Our artillery begins the liberation effort, for it is our right and duty to liberate occupied territory.
If Israel is persuaded to withdraw from the occupied territories, how would you visualize the next step?
If Israel agrees on two main points, this will solve the problem. The points are land—withdrawal from all occupied territory—and people—the Palestinians must have the choice of returning to their homes.
Could there be some sort of international occupation of that territory, say by a U.N. force, while further negotiations take place?
No, we could not accept the international occupation of Sinai.
Not even as an interim step toward solution?
Israel wants to have Sinai demilitarized. We could agree to such a situation with the Security Council, with Dr. Gunnar Jarring—something like that—for a short period. But on the permanent demilitarization of Sinai, we refuse.
Can you conceive of any negotiated territorial adjustments in the Sinai?
It is beyond discussion. These boundaries have been here for hundreds of years.
What about in Jordan?
That is for the Jordanians to decide.
In Syria?
There is nothing in the Security Council resolution about border rectification. If we agree to rectification, we go beyond the resolution, and this we cannot do.
If a solution is somehow achieved, would you sign a nonaggression pact with Israel?
If there were a solution to all problems, this would be something to think about.