Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07
'Iraq Proposes
Military Talks
.ByArab Nations

JERUSALEM, Mar. 7 R.-
Iraq was reported today to have
proposed a military conference
with the Arab neighbors of Is
rael on a common front to "kill
any widespread Israeli agrees
sion"
Informed sources in Damascus
said the oil-rich Arab kingdom,
long a target of Nationalist Arab
criticism because it is a member
of the Western-sponsored Bagh-
dad Pact, submitted the proposal
to Syria, Egypt, Lebanon and
Jordan.
Strategic discussions went on
among the government chiefs of
Egypt. Syria and Saudi Arabia
in Cairo.
An Egyptian spokesman there
said four points were discussed
today by Egypt's Premier Canal
Abdel NaSser, Saudi Arabia S
King Saud and Syria's President
Shukri AL Kuwatly:
l. The general situation in the
Middle East.
2. Arab security. :
8. Coordination of the de-
fences of the Arab world.
\ 4. Coordination of the plans
of the three nations-whose
forces are linked under Egyptian
command in a mutual aid alli-
ance-in case of aggression.
Iraqi Note to Syria
The Damascus sources said
coordination of inter-Arab mil
itary measures also was the aim
of the Iraqis, who took part with
other Arabs in the l948 Pales-
tine war.
The Iraqi note to Syria re-
newed Iraq's offer to extend i'm
mediate military aid to any Arab
country exposed to Israeli ag-
gression," the informants said.
Due to the serious circum-
stances which the Arab states
bordering Israel are encounter
ing" the note was quoted. "Iraq
suggests a high-level conference
OF these countries with Irao to
coordinate inter-Arab military
measures in order to be able to
kill any widespread Israeli ag-
erosion in the future"
Iraq's King Faisal is a cousin
of Jordan's young King Hussein,
who won applause from Arab ma
tionalistS last week by firing
British 1t. Gen. John Bagot
Club as commander of the Jor-
danian Arab Legion. The Egyp-
tian-Syrian-Saudia Arabian alli-
ance would like to have that
crack 20.000-man force under its
unified command.
Britain's recall of Is high
British officers who served in
the Legion under Gen. Club
did not sit well in Amman, Hus-
Isein's capital. His foreign min
lister, Hussein Khalidy, said to-
day Jordan does not regard the
recall of the Is as an accom-
lplished fact and slopes the po-
Isition will be reconsidered."
"The Jordan government de-
sires to retain the services of
all British officers now en-
|ployed by the Arab Legion and
does not intend any change in
their position, status, RESPONSE
lbility and authority, which will
be determined by competent
military authorities" Mr.. Kha-
Idly told a news. conference in
Amman. =
Preventive War Stunned
In Israel, advocates of a pre-
ventive war against the Arabs
stood rebuffed.
Israel's nationalist Heruth
Party was defeated. 66-13, last
night on a motion of no con-
fidence in the government of
Premier David Bengurion. The
Herllth wants Israel IN attack
before Communist arms ship
ments can tip the balance in
the Arabs favor.
The Premier told a stormy
Parliament session Israel will
not start a war against her Arab
nelghbors. But he warned that
recent events had increased the
danger of a second Arab-Israeli
conflict.