COMMUNIST PARTY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R000300210010-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 23, 1998
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: February 5, 1947
• Content Type: IR

Approved For Release 1999/09
INtELLOFAV
118
25X1A2g
25X1A2g
25X1A2g
000300210
~ E GROUP
ITE !_IGENCE REPORT
25X1X6
, ParRiy
25X1A6a
DIST. Fels'-WVT Z Pv
PAC, I S
SUPPLEMENT
following members of the self-proclaimed Consist party in Egypt
are reported to be party leaders with authority in the order listed:
Zaky Salamah
Ramai Tunan
Unidentified Jew (Syrian origin)
1nwar Kheifl Egyptian nationality
Georges Henein is
she ahove..named persons hold weekly meetings, usually on Thursday nights,
changing meeting places each week. They claim that they are the responsible
directors of all Communist activity in Egypt. They admit that there are
Minor dissident factions among the Communists in Egypt who refuse to
acknowledge their leadership and authority, but they regard them as
inconsequential as well as irresponsible. They represent themselves
to be doctrinaire Communists. They admit there have been differences
between Trotskyist, and what they term "Stalinists" within their aim
leadership, but that a reconciliation has taken place in order to
achieve unity in general aims and purposes,
The following represents statements and claims of party members:
(a)
(b)
WARNING NOTICE: THIS DISTRIBUTION LISTING UST BC
EXCISED BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT.
Approved For Release 1
The total membership of the communist Party in Egypt is
about 1,200, with 60 per cent in Cairo, 20 per cent in
Alexandria, and 20 per cent in the rest of Egypt* Chiefly
Suez, Port Said and Tanta. Party headquarters have always
been and still are in Cairo. In Upper Egypt, there are
only scattered members.
SEE REVERSE FOR DECLASS.iFXCAxx?N AC1I-W
The Communists in Egypt are Impartial as to racial or
religious backgrounds of members. It is estimated that
the party includes about 180 Jews of Egyptian nationality
and of all origins, chiefly French. The balance of 1,020 are
also almost entirely of Egyptian nationality., with approximately
15 per cent Italian, French, Greek and other usual Middle East
origins, The remainder are Arabs of which less than 20 per
cent are Moslem. The average age of members is 25 to 30
years. Few students, as such, are members,
This *16011mont
affects C0~%tatns information
"e n t
o: a1 d%,e!z a o; the
the 7' the r:e inry
the rava1 ^ 3 ~ g c?6 '-
"4~
DATE 25X1X6g
 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000300210010-8
CENTRAL Ih-rELLIGE ncE GROUP 25X1 A2g
c) The party is now weak and loosely organized, mainly
owing to rigid government suppression, but also because
of lark of funds. The party finances itself through member
contributions. About a year ago, a small money oontributia*n
as received from the Communist group in Beirut, but none
has been received since. The party at present is not re-
ceiving any financial assistance from any outside source,
other than from its own members.
(d) The party was forced to discontinue its one weekly and one
monthly publication because of lack of funds, Alain current
activities include organizing now so-called "cadres", word-
of-mouth propaganda and occasional pamphlet campaigns, but
only when enough money can be raised from members for the
parpose. Paaphlets are printed in Cairo, edited and pub-
lished by r,mri Yunan, with the assistance of Georges
' Tenein.
(e)
(f)
The party occasionally receives Communist literature
smuggled into Egypt by a Beirut Communist group, This
literature is generally in the form of pamphlets, and is
published and edited in Beirut, although some literature is
believed to have originated in Paris. The party in Eft
thus far has not been able to reciprocate, i.e,, send some
of its own pamphlets to Lebanon or any other place outside
E=gypt, for the follow ng reasons: only a limited quantity of
ititerial for its own 'ise; close police surveillance; strict
border inspections and customs efficiency; weak organization
and lack of personnel Who would be able to effect such dis-
tribution.
The part,-,r has not been involved in any manner, either
officially or unofficially, with recent student disorders,
as such, in Egypt. Recent student demonstrations are regarded
by the party as of a purely political nature. The party did,
however, help plan and support one riot in !March 1946. (No
other details obtainable).
(g) The Communist Party is in no way connected with the Wafd,
either at present or in the past. Nahhas Pasha is regarded as
antagonistic toward Communist aims and ideals as evidenced by
his arrests of members (ineludint Anwar h1l)and his campaigns
against Cofi-eminists generally.
(h) The Co:w unists are neither backed by nor affiliated with any
political party in Egypt.
(i) It is reported that a member of the Cairo headquarters cell
approached Sokolov, socrotary of the Soviet Legation in
Cairo, with a request for funds, or any other possible
support. lie ti:as turned dorm by Sokolov, who stated: "The
Soviet Legation is not intorosted in supporting any local
party as it is doubted if the Communist Party in :.fit
will warrant such support for at least twenty pars p"
Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000300210010-8
 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000300210010-8
(; ,IjTuL INTELLIGENCE GRA[1P 25X1 A2g
(j) The two wealthiest Egyptian Communists, who contribute
the biggest share of fluids, are Georges Henein and Henri
Curiel, the latter presently under arrest with twelve
followers. The party believes Curiel was selected for
arrest mainly because: (a) he is a Jew; (b) he is well-
known, wealthy, very active, and has a past record; hence,
he is a conspicuous example,
(k) The party would welcome a trial of Curiel and his associates,
or any Communist, on charges of being a Communist, but believe
that the government is afraid to bring the Communist matter
into the open.
(1) Curiel frequently works independently of the so-called
headquarters cell and claims the party leadership in his own
name. This causes some suspicion among other members that
he is in direct contact with Paris Communists (Thorez was
/ mentioned by name, in this connection). It-is also suspected that
Curiel perhaps even receives funds from France to supplement
his own money.
(m)
In 1944, Fathi al-Ram].i, a member of the Communist Party,
ran for election to Parliament as a Socialist. He needed 200
Egyptian pounds for his campaign; LE 150 to post In order to
stand as a candidate. He put up LE 70 of his own money. Other
members raised LE 30, Georges Henein put up the balance, LE 100.
He was badly defeated and members felt he made a poor campaign,
lost chiefly because he was a poor and unconvincing speaker,
Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000300210010-8