Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
Continued From First Pag,

Continued From First Page
capable of carrying 100 men, and
nearly 200 smaller planes were
to start the first wave of the air
lift at dawn tomorrow with
movement of the headquarters
brigade of the Sd infantry di-
vision.
AT least four troopships were
to leave in the next six days.
There was no indication whether
these Sailings also were affected.
NATO Officials Silent
Widely printed press reports in
London said the 15,000-man I'd
Infantry Division may be with
drawn from West Germany,
where Britain maintains four d.
visions and a tactical air force.
Later allied diplomats said
only certain personnel and
smaller units were involved in
the contemplated withdrawal,
The War Office would net deny
or confirm the reports, and both
the political and military head
quarters of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization in Paris de-
clined comment.
Meanwhile, diplomatic and
other activity ranged far and
wide, as the August l6 opening
date OF 24-nation conference
on international control Of the
Suez approached.
Indonesia-the Goth nation to
line up--agreed to attend the
conference called by the agree
rnent of Britain, France and the
United States.
Iran Explains Position
Iran, another nation that has
accepted, explained in a state
ment by its Foreign Minister
that Iran considers Egypt was
acting within her sovereign
rights in Matchmaking the canal,
but declared Trans vital interest
was in securing free passage in
the Suez Canal"
In Moscow. French Ambassa-
dor Maurice Dejean again called
on Soviet Foreign Minister
Dmitn Shepilov.
United States Charge D'Affairs
John Jernegan, senior diplomat
i'll Rome. discussed the crisis
with Italian Foreign Minister
Gaetano MARITIME.
A tWo-hour nationwide strike
and demonstrations to protest
the London conference were
called in Syria for August IA
by a group calling itself the
Syrian Commission for Egypt'S
Aid"
Allied diplomats said the
Eden government has given no
indication of either the nature
or number of troops it may with
draw from the continent. Brit
ain now maintains four divisions.
of about $4,000 men each, in
West Germany in accordan .
with a pledge Sir Anthony CAV,
to the nine-power conference
on Germany last year.
The British also keep a tactical
air force in Germany.
Under the NATO agreements,
Britain can reduce this force to
meet some grave emergency af-
fecting her interests elsewhere or
because of extreme financial diff
ficulties. France has already
taken the best Of her NATO
units away to fight in Algeria.
Gruenther Must Approve
Informants emphasized. how
ever that any withdrawal must
be approved by the supreme
allied commander in Europe,
now United States Gen. Alfred
NJ. Gruenther. Gen. Gruenther
visited London two days ago.
The earlier reports said the
troops to be withdrawn would
not themselves be sent to the
Mediterranean, but would join
Britain's strategic reserves at
home. replacing the Mediter-
ranean-bound LIST and Sd In
fantry Divisions.
In his broadcast, Sir Anthony
declared Col. NaSser has shown
me he is not a man who can be
trusted to keep an agreement. ;"
He charged the Egyptian leader
had seized the canal for his
own ends"
Our quarrel is not with
Egypt" Sir Anthony asserted,
still less with the Arab world.
1t is with Col. Nasser."
Terming the Middle East oil
that passes through the canal
matter of life and death for
Western Europe, the Prime
Minister warned:
If Col. NaSser'S action were to
succeed. each one of us would be
at the mercy of one man for
the supplies upon which we live.
We could never accept that
With dictators you always have
to pay higher price later on
for their appetite grows with
feeding
The Daily Telegraph. which
supports Sir Anthony'S Con-
sentative Party. saw in his
speech clear implication" that
Britain is prepared to use force
if Egypt rejects proposals for
international control of the
canal.
Sir Anthony spoke shortly
after the 10Th nation had ac-
cepted an invitation to attend
the conference called by Britain