Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-21

talking to interviewers in March,
1856, called it an attempt to
I"reasSert Western domination of
this area" and a menace to the
Arab world" Marshal Tito of
Yugoslavia had visited Col. Mas
ser in January. and they warned
in a Joint communique that "a
policy of military blocs and
pacts inevitably results in a
suicidal ornaments race, causes
misunderstanding among the
nations and heightens tension
in the world"
One of the "misunderstand-
ingS" arising from the pact
caused trouble in Jordan. In De-
cember. 1855, Britain sent its
chief of the Imperial General
STAFF. Sir Gerald A. Templer, to
Jordan in the hope of persuading
that Arab nation to join the
Baghdad pact. His mission not
only was failure but also re-
suited in rioting probably en-
couraged by Egypt.
Three months later March 2,
1856 King HusSein dismissed
1t. Gen. John Bagot Club.
Known affectionately in Jordan
as Club PaSha, this British
general had for 25 years built
and commanded the Arab Lee
gion, a Jordanian army which
was the most efficient fighting
force in the Middle East. More
over,
Czech Arms Sale
Taking advantage of the rise
of Arab nationalism and the
sentiment against the Baghdad
pact. Russia made its most
ominous incursion into the
Middle East. Through its satel-
lite, Czechoslovakia, the Soviet
Union sold modern weapons of
war to Egypt.
I The story of the arms-to-
Egypt deal begins in May, 1855
when Egypt asked the United
States to sell it war material
The Eisenhower administration
offered to sell up to $50 million
worth of weapons. Since that
sum was about the total OF
Egypt's gold reserve, Col. Nassel
asked whether he could pay in
cotton. The answer was no. be.
cause the United States has a
cotton surplus. Col. Nasser then
suggested buying the arms on
credit. Washington was slow in
reaching final policy decisions in
the matter, and Egypt dropped
it.
In the following month. June
the administration got word
That Col. Nasser was having dis
cussions with the Soviet bloc
about buying arms. Next-be-
fore the summit conference
in July-American Ambassador
Byroade received word from
high sources in the Egyptian
government that the talks with
Russia had been discontinued
So Mr.. Eisenhower did not bring
II up at the Geneva conference
But in September. the Soviet
Egyptian arms deal was sealed
This led to a new Palestine
crisis. Israel believed that Egypt
was arming for war against her
Renewed shooting along the bor-
der heightened the crisis. A third
world war might we'll be in the
making. Israel appealed urgently
ito the United States to sell Il
war weapons to counter balance
those Egypt was getting from the
Communists.
i Grave policy decisions had to
be taken by President Eisenhow-
er and Secretary Dulles. The
basic points of their thinking
can be disclosed here:
/. The United States is deter
mined to see that Israel lives as
an independent nation.
2. The United States likewise
has a sympathetic attitude to-
ward the desire Of the Arab peo-
oles to develop modern nations.
3. The United States cannot
PERMIT the Soviet Union to cut
III the flow Of oil from the Mid.
lie East to the nations Of fret
Europe. The economy Of Western