Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-21
QuorreIWith Thompson

on the Egyptian situation
c'Preventive War Not Justi-
fed" November IA, and to
find such unfortunate histori-
cal parallels and unfounded
conclusions expounded.
Miss Thompson breezily dis
misses as irrelevant any justi-
fication for the Israeli and
Anglo French interventions,
stating that Hitler's attack on
Europe and Japan's agrees
sion against the United States
might just as well have been
condoned as constituting pre-
ventive action! Is Miss Thomp-
son suggesting that the United
States had been waging guer-.
rilla warfare on Japan, prior
to 194l; that American lead
ers daily vowed to wipe the
Japanese of the face of the
earth, and were in fact pre-
pairing to do so?
This is precisely how the
Egyptian demagogue-dictat
has been treating Israel. He
has likewise seen fit to aid
and abet the Algerian terror
lists. and to seize control, uni
laterally and arbitrarily, over
the vital Suez Canal.
These blatant acts of ag-
erosion clamored for U. N.
action. But did the Russians
at the Security Council permit
any constructive steps to be
taken? Did the Soviet-Arab
bloc favor such steps?
The bitter truth is that the
U.N. is incapable of positive
action and has become a focus
for anti-Western propaganda,
designed to weaken, divide and
paralyze the West. Should,
then, Israel have endured pas
sively the mounting threats to
her very survival? Should
France and Great Britain have
watched dispassionately while
Russia, through the good of
fees of NaSSer. proceeded to
gain control over the Middle
East?
Miss Thompson need not
fret that it was Anglo French
intervention that brought
about the Soviet attack on the
Hungarian people. The Krem-
lin has never been overly
concerned with world opinion
or the U.N.. when its interests
are at stake. What is disgust
ing is not the so-called Israeli
Anglo-French aggression; it
is the solicitude of the U.N. for
Dictator Nasser's plight when
contrasted with the meek dis
approval it has voiced concern
ing the atrocities now being
perpetrated by the Red gang
sters in Hungary.
+
Miss Thompson attempted
portraying Col. Nasser as an
inexperienced. ill-advised man,
who has not really done any,
thing against international or
Ger and peace, except a few
we almost could say-practical
Jokes, which have not been
serious enough TO threaten
world peace.
1t seems that Miss Thomp-
son, either by device or by lack
OF knowledge. is misleading
the readers, because she should
know that according to the
Suez Convention of 1888 this
international waterway has
been permanently neutralized
and has to stay open for ships
OF all nations in peace and
war. The canal must not be
blocked. Thus Egypt has been
guilty Of breach Of interna-
tional order and of breach of
peace, when deliberately deny
ing use Of the canal to Israeli
shipping; further, when seiz-
ing the canal, and finally when
blocking it and putting OBJ
stacles to its clearance. 1t is
generally accepted in inter-
national law that II a state,
either in time Of peace or war.
violates such rules OF the law
OF nations as are laid down
in law-nnaking treaties, other
states have a right 70 inter-
vene, and 10 make the delln-
quent submit 10 the rules. This
does not constitute preventive
war; 1t is simply protection
OF a community against a
wronRdoer.
Miss Thompson pretends
that world peace has nov been
threatened By Israel. Britain
and France. But there has
been no peace in the Middle
East for a long time. because
the peace Of a wicked man
Is not a true peace as ST..
Augusiin wrote many years
ago. and as the course OF
events has confirmed anew.