Evening star., 1951-11-10
Big ; and Turkey
SetUpConnn1and
For Middle East
Arab Nations, Split
Over Plan, Invited
To Ask Arms or Aid
BY the Associated Press


PARIS, Nov. 10.-The Western
Big Three powers and Turkey an
nounced today their determination
to arm, train and help defend the
Arab World-its vital waterways
and oil lands-against Communist
aggression.
They made it clear Arab op-
position will not deter them from
setting up a Middle East defense
command.
Arab nations were invited to
join and request arms and equip
ment from any of the four spon-
soring powers, the formal an
nouncement said.
The job, it said, will be "pri-
marily one of planning and pro-
viding the Middle East states on
their request with assistance in
the form of advice and training. :"
Arab World Divided.
The Arab world was split over
acceptance of the idea.
Egypt has refused summarily to
join as founding partner of the
MEG and the Syrian government
favoring it fell from power amid
Western demonstrations in
Damascus today.
Syria's resigning Premier Has
sen El Hakeem told reporters in
Damascus the command offered
the Arabs a golden opportunity
to grid against aggression. He said
Egypt should have consulted other
Arab nations before rejecting it.
Egypt, in private sessions out
side the U. N. Assembly meetings
here, was making last-minute ef-
forts to line up solid Arab oppo-
sitoin, but three or four of the
seven Arab League nations were
reported favorable toward the
command or wavering.
Enmity for Isarael Faction.
Some were torn between Arab
Moslem solidarity with Egypt in
isolation and what the resigned
Syrian Premier called their golden
opportunity. Arab enmity for
Israel also figured in their CROP
ing toward a decision on whether
to accept or turn thumbs down.
The blanket invitation includes
the Jewish state that fought it
self into being against Arab op-
position in 1948
Egypt alone was asked to join
the command at the outset last
month. She refused and at the
same time began putting into eff
feet her longterm plan to get rid
of British control over the Suez
Canal and the Sudan.
Egypt said the British must get
out before any defense plan could
be considered. Then this week
an Egyptian spokesman here said
any Middle East defense plan must
be strictly of the Arab world
"Alone. alone, alone"
Egypt's Leadership Challenged.
The Arab split developed i'm
mediately after Egypt's rejection
of the command up to today
the sponsoring powers had not
invited any other countries to-
join. now they challenge Egypt's
leadership in the Arab world by
asking other countries to par
ticipate actively.
Three British Commonwealth
countries-South Africa, Australia
and New Zealand-already are
associated with the four main
sponsoring powers in the COM
mand.
The project is linked with the
North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
ton whose European defense
army is commanded by Gen.
Eisenhower.
Turkey Expected to Name Chief.
Turkey is expected to be the
Middle-East kingpin of the COM
mand and is expected to name its
commander in chief. Turkey and
Greece were voted into NATO
membership at the September
council meeting in Ottawa.
In the original plan, the COM
mand hoped to make the British
controlled Suez Canal zone a pri-
mary base and Britain agreed to-
get out if replaced by an interna-
tional force. Egypt would have
none of it.
The formal announcement came
two days after the United States
and Russia showed plainly in
speeches before the United Ma
tions that the East and West are
not near any conciliation on arms
reduction and other peace meas
ureS'