Evening star., 1946-08-04
Palestine Considered
Likely British Base
Guarding Oil Supply
BY Mox Boyd


Asseeiotsd Press Foreign Correspondent
CAIRO, Aug. 5.-The proposed
evacuation of Britains troops from
Egypt after a stay OF 64 years is
concentrating attention on Pales-
tines possibilities as a base from
which Britain may guard her oil
and KEY communications In the
Middle East.
Most military men agree that
Egypt Is the best base in this part
of the world. If the front door of
the Mediterranean Is closed as it
was to a considerable extent by
Axis airplanes for a time during
World War II, supplies can come
through the Red Sea. 1t has air.
fields, Army and naval depots built
UP over period of many years and
ts a crossroads of commercial air
lines. 1t has the rich farmland of
the Nile Valley and the urban work
ers of Cairo and Alexandria to back
up military force.
Renegotiatien Demanded.
Since the war. however, all Egypt
has. been demanding that the Brit
tsh renegotiate the treaty under
which they operate here. and take
their forces out. There have been
demonstrations, and erenades have
been thrown into British service
clubs and among British soldiers
on the streets. Britain's labor gov
eminent, hoping TO win Egypt's good
will and new alliance, proposed a
withdrawal agreement.
Few expect this to be accom-
plished overnight Reliable sources
say. however, that the troops def
nitely are going and that the first
phase. involving withdrawal of
troops from Cairo and other cities
to the Suez Canal Zone within some
thing like eight months, is already
under way.
In the Canal Zone the RAF
maintains major base with sup
porting shops, and the British army
has enormous supply depots. When
the British will leave the last of
these has been the subject of much
discussion between Egyptian
delegations negotiating the new
treaty. Three to five years is one
period mentioned.
Next to Egypt. Palestine is re-
sarded as the best available base.
It lies across the path of any at
tack on the canal from the north
west It is next door to Egypt and
connected by rail and road. Should
Egypt agree to the return of Brit
ish forces in an international emer-
eency, they would be right at hand.
Air Bases Established.
The coastal plan of Palestine, be-
tween Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, al
ready holds several Raj fields and
can take many more. 1t also is
dotted with the tents of the Brit
ish Army, engaged recently in op-
erations against Jewish terrorists.
Haifs offers a partial substitute
for the naval facilities of Alexandria
and Port Said and pipeline from
the Mosul oil field in Iraq makes
available fuel for the Mediterranean
feet there.
To the east. across the Dead Sea
and the River Jordan, lies Trans
Jordan, the desert and mountain
kingdom of King Abdullsh, son of
Hussein. who, in alliance with the
British. led the Arab revolt against
the Turks during World War I. The
British have treaty rights to main
tain troops there, but Trans Jordan
offers neither the access to the sea
nor the agricultural and limited in
dustrial support that Palestine pro-
vides.
Farther TO the east and north is
1raq, reputed cradle of civilization,
whose 1l-year -old King Feisal II,
grandson of another British ally Of
World War I, was welcomed warmly
on recent visit to England.
Iraq Sore Spot.
1rad was a sore spot during the
war and some nti-British demon
strations have occurred recently.
1raq has joined the rest of the Arab
world in protesting the proposal 10
admit 100000 more Jews into the
Holy Land. The Iraqi government
has asked Britain to negotiate for
revision of their 1880 treaty. under
which the RAF maintains bases In
the country west of the River Eu-
pirates. But the two governments
continue to be on friendly terms.
These factors all favor Palestine
ss base. On the other hand. there
are grave disadvantages. If the
Mediterranean were closed. Palestine
could be reinforced readily only il
the Suez Canal remained secure
More important. the struggle be-
tween Zionism and the Arabs. while
tending TO insure the continued
presence of foreign troops in the
country, engages large numbers oi
those troops and often paralyzes ia.
cilities vital to them.
The military effect of the proposed
admission of 100000 more Jews is ir
dispute. One delegate to the recent
Cairo Conference of Kings, Princes
and Presidents of the Arab worlc
said the immigrants, if thev came
would become 100000 corpses.