Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-01
Thousands Sent
AS Protection
In Suez Crisis

CAIRO, Egypt. Sept. / (P.-
Thousands of French troops
boarded ships for duty in the
Mediterranean area today while
preparations were pushed here
for the opening of talks between
President NaSser and FIVE
nation committee on the Suez
Canal dispute.
The 30.447-ton French troop
ship Pasteur sailed from Mar
seille, France, last night with
1900 men bound for Algeria.
Twenty-six other ships took on
men and equipment at the
French port. There was no ofh-
cial announcement on the troop
movement. but it was widely
reported in Paris that a num-
Der of the ships would soon
sail for Cyprus.
Britain agreed this week to
permit French forces to use
Cyprus as a base. An advance
French military party already
has reached that British-ruled
Mediterranean island. $50 miles
from the Suez Canal.
Other ships at Marseille were
known to be under orders for
ports in Algeria, where National
list rebels have been waging a
% month campaign against
French rule.
For Protection Of Lives
Both France and Britain have
been building up their military
forces in the Mediterranean area,
with the stated aim of protect
ing British and French lives and
property. since July 26 when Col.
NaSser seized the canal.
The five nation committee
headed by Prime Minister Robert
G. Menzies of Australia is to ar
rive here tomorrow to open talks
Monday with the Egyptian Pres
|ident. The committee is bring
ing a Western-sponsored plan
backed by Is of the % nations
which attended the recent Lon
don conference on the canal
issue. The plan calls for an in
ternatiOnal board to operate the
canal. he board would be linked
to the United Nations and would
have Egypt as a member.
Cairo newspapers said Col.
Nasser would meet the Menzies
mission Monday morning in his
Office with Foreign Minister
Mahmoud Fawzi and his foreign
affairs advisor, Wing Comdr. Ali
Sabry. in attendance. The press
reports said the talks we're ex-
pected to last about a week.
Col. NaSSer, who refused to
attend the London Conference
and disputed its right to take up
the Suez question. insists Egypt
has the right of sole control over
the 103-mile Middle East water
way.
Preparations Made
Virgil Moore of the United
States State Departments In
ternational Conference Division,
is serving as advance man for
the Menzies group and already
has been making routine "ad-
ministrative" preparations for
Mondays opening session. Com
mittee members are Australia,
the United States, Sweden, Iran
and Ethiopia.
AS the canal controversy con-
tinued to develop, other Middle
East troubles boiled up.
The biggest clashes in months
were reported along the Egypt
Israeli frontier. with Egypt
charging Israeli forces killed 10
Egyptian soldiers in three sepa-
rate raids on Egyptian territory.
/ In Cairo, an investigation
neared completion into an
alleged British-led. spy ring. Re-
lportedly an Egyptian prosecutor
has said he would demand death
sentences for three British sub
jects who are being held.
! On Cyprus, the arrival Of the
first French troops came as the
British were meeting renewed at
tacks by the Greek Cypriot UNI
derground.
/ Strict security regulations cut
of information concerning the
first landing Of French troops,
but heavy flow Of military traf-
fic was reported In Nicosia.