THE MILITARY COUP IN EGYPT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01172R000200280003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 2, 2005
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: July 23, 1952
• Content Type: SUMMARY

A r d r elease 20W& 2:= 72R000200280003-8
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
23 July 1952
THE MILITARY COUP IN EGYPT. The military coup d'etat of 23 July--
ostensibly directed against top officers who were involved in cor-
ruption during the 1948 Palestine fighting--has resulted in:
a. The removal of the Commander in Chief.of the Armed
Forces, General Haidar Pasha, and the installation of the
leader of the re olt, General Mohammed Nagib, who has been
the Director General of the Infantry',and who was a popular
war hero during the Palestine fighting in 1948;
b. The arrest of Haidar Pasha, Chief of Staff Earid Pasha,
and other high ranking officers;
c. The fall of the two-day old Hilali Cabinet; and
d. The reported appointment of Ali Maher as new Prime
Minister of Egypt.
Dissatisfaction within the army over corruption in the high
command dates back to 1948, when censorship failed to hide a
serious arms scandal in which Haidar Pasha and Farid Pasa were
reportedly involved. In spite of government attempts to whitewash
the affair, army and popular resentment forced the replacement of
Haidar and Farid. When the affair subsided, King Farouk wuietly
reappointed Haidar and Farid to their former positions.
Army dissatisfaction with the top military leaders again began
to make itself felt when, partly as a result of Palace intrigue, the
Hilali Cabinet was replaced three weeks ago by the less competent
Sirry government. When King Farouk tried to force a Palace favorite
into the membership of the exclusive officers' club, Army opposition
became so intense that Farouk backed down. The King, however, re-
fused to allow Sirry to make a compromise appointment of Nagib as
Minister of War and Marine. Sirry resigned over this issue, report-
edly against the King's wishes, and Hilali came back in as Prime
Minister.
The military coup of General Mohammed Nagib represents the
most drastic step to date away from constitutional government in
Egypt. Whether or not harmony is fully restored between King Farouk
and the army, it furnishes a precedent for military delctation to civil
government in Egypt. Secretary of Interior, War, and Marine Maraghi,
often considered as a future Prime Minister, was a member of Ali
Maher's first cabinet in February.
Document No, NQ OG. 93 {u class. 1 1
Approved For Release 2 / 2
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