Withdrawal

Weary of submitting the teeth of his gift horse to the suspicious scrutiny of Egypt's political leaders (TIME, March 1 et seq.), John D. Rockefeller Jr. last week withdrew his offer to build in Cairo and endow a ten-million-dollar "Temple of the Unfolding Life of Man." A finishing touch to the farce was added by Mr. Rockefeller. His last letter to King Fuad of Egypt explained that the gift was withdrawn "to relieve the Egyptian Government of embarrassment." Still fumbling about for reasons for Egypt's reluctance other than the seemingly true one-- Egypt's political misgivings and entanglements--Premier Ziwar Pasha was reported to have offered the ingenious statement: " . . . . unfortunately, before action could be taken, we were informed that Mr. Rockefeller had withdrawn."

The offer was made in January. The terms of the gift were redrawn by Premier Ziwar and his distinguished colleagues and returned to Mr. Rockefeller (via his representative Professor James H. Breasted, famed Egyptologist) (TIME, May 3). Mr. Rockefeller acquiesced in Egypt's terms--which it then repudiated, evidently fearing something deep and scheming beneath such apparent magnanimity.