UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1950-11-24_Page-013

1 4 9 REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT QF _ ___._ THE AMERICAN ULIYERS1T1' AT CA1R0 TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTMS FOR THE YEAR 1949-1950 l - COnIT?.02TS 11T EGYPT During the past year conditions in Egypt were more favorable for the Univer-sity's work than at any tie since the outbreak of tho war in 1939. Although Israel and Egypt remained technically at war, there was no active fighting, and most re-strictions of martial lC.w were removed before the end of the year. The Palestine situation continued to be one of the major concerns of politics, but became much less important in personal and institutional relations. Public order was good; even a major parliamentary election passed without serious trouble. The year was marked by several notable events. On September 18, 1949, the Egyptian pound was devalued, resulting in a decrease of dollar costs but an increase of prices in local currency. On October 14, 1949, the Consular and Mixed Courts came to an end, thus terminating the capitulatory regime that had lasted since the early days of Turkish rule and placing all foreigners under the jurisdiction of the Egyptian national courts. In January, 1950, the first postwar parliamentary election took place resulting in a return to power of the popular Wafd Party. It was hoped that the new cabinet might terminate successfully the protracted negotiations with 1111 Great Britain for a revision of the 1936 treaty, but so far little progress has been made. The attitude of the Egyptian Government and public toward the United States has somewhat improved. There is no doubt but that Egypt desires a more friendly and cooperative relationship with America. The American record in Palestine is still a barrier to any real rapprochement, and further ill-feeling has been created by the undignified and irresponsible scandal stories of the Royal Family published in some American magazines. Yet Egypt signed the Fulbright Agreement in November, 1949, and Egyptian students - both Government supported and private - are going to the United States to study in larger numbers than ever. Feeling against individual American citizens and non-government organizations has not been apparent. in this situation the University has continued to enjoy unusual confidence 11/ and cooperation from both official and unofficial circles. Three Cabinet Ministers in the present Government are members of the Advisory Board of the Division of Ex-tension and have continued their service after taking office. The Minister of Foreign Affairs gave the guest address at Commencement. During the Mohammed Ali Centennial Celebration, the University held a Memorial Convocation to which the King In education there likewise has been significant development. With the new Wafd Cabinet, Dr. Taha Hussein, leading Arab literateur, became Minister of Educa-tion. His policy has been to accomplish by administrative order Egypt's dream of free, universal education. Beginning with the fall of 1950, no qualified pupil who desires to enter a Government school is to be denied admission - even if the build-ing, teachers, and textbooks are insufficient. The result has been to further pack over-crowded schools. It is said that there are almost one million pupils more than government schools can accommodate during the coming year. Such a policy pre-sents private educational institutions with both new academic and financial problems, and new opportunities