Evening star., 1956-08-27
1O4th Year. No. 24O Phone ST. $4,000 ~
Nasser Wi||inu
10 Meet Suez
Group in Cairo
But He Is Reported
Insisting ToIks Go
Beyond London Plan

OSyOuU GOHuOH TIun
CAIRO. Egypt. Aug. 81 B.-
President Nasser will meet the
MenzieS committee but only
with the understanding that he
is not obligated to accept the
l8-nation plan for international
control Of the Suez Canal, it was
reported today.
The Egyptian cabinet decision
on the meeting had been for
warded to London. where Prime
Minister Robert G. Menzies of
Australia was awaiting a reply
TO message to the Egyptian
president. An official Egyptian
source said the reply would be
handed over by the Egyptian
Embassy in London tomorrow.
Mr.. Menzies was appointed by
the London Suez conference last
week to head a five-nation COM
mittee to present to Col. Mas
ser the plan for an international
authority to operate the canal.
The plan. proposed by the
United States, was endorsed by
II Of the other 81 nations at the
conference.
1nformants here said Col
Nasser would receive Mr.. Menzies
and his committee in Cairo, but
would insist that the entire Suez
problem be discussed, not Just
the majority plan. India at the
conference proposed that an in
ternational board be empowered
only to advise Egypt in running
the canal.
No Egyptian Commitments
Egypt's semiofficial Middle
East News Agency said the
cabinet. in reaching tbs decision,
looked into the consideration
Menzies is for a meeting to
not commit Egypt to any obliga-
tion and that the invitation of
Menzies is for a meeting to
present different viewpoints" It
added that Mr.. MenzieS' request
for a meeting said Egypt would
not commit herself by accepting.
Earlier reports said Col. Nasser
would propose a series of in
dividual or collective treaties be-
tween Egypt and the nations US
ing the canal guaranteeing traffic
through the waterway from in
reference.
In the face of steady prepara-
tions by Britain and France for
military action if negotiations
fail to produce a peaceful solu-
tion, Col. Nasser appeared to be
bending his efforts to hanging
onto the 103-mile waterway
without getting into war. He
seized the Suez Operating Co. for
the Egyptian government on
July rs. He appeared willing to
examine all possible solutions
which would not involve what he
considers a surrender of Egyp-
tian sovereignty.
There was a growing feeling
among Egyptian officials and the
public that Britain and France
were not bluffing about the pos
sible use of force. A London
report said roads leading to the
embarkation Port of Southamp-
ton were jammed with convoys
OF military vechicles painted a
desert yellow. Four freighters
at the port were being loaded
with ammunition and military
equipment.
Moscow Doubts War
Experienced diplomats in Mos
ccw, however, said they believed
the Soviet government feels
there is little chance the West
will start a shooting war over the
Suez. The Soviet government
was reported to have taken the
British and French willingness
to negotiate as a sign of weak
ness.
Britain and France have
charged that Col. Nassers lone
handed control of the canal i'm
perils Western Europe's lifelines,
particularly the flow of Middle
East oil.
Charges and countercharges
new over whether Egyptian
naturalization of the 87-year-
old waterway was impairing the
efficiency of its operation.
The Suez Canal Co.. the pri-
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