Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-12
By EARL H. vOss


United States officials are
bracing themselves for some new
Egyptian move against the West.
A mounting shrillness has
been noted in the Cairo press.
American interference" in Mid
die East affairs. particularly the
rushing Of the 9Th Fleet to the
Eastern Mediterranean and the
quick $40 million advance to
Jordan, has provoked q new
stream Of invective.
But Washington officials de-
cline to speculate on what
Egyptian President Canal Alb
del Nasser might do next.
Their attitude Is: Let him fig-
Iure out his own skullduggery.
They list q series of recent
setbacks which have damaged
President Nasser's prestige
among his Arab neighbors. how
ever. If he reacts as in the past
he will try to recoup. they be-
lieve.
Rundown ON Reverses
Here is the rundown Of recent
setbacks for Col. Nasser:
l. A pro-Nasser coup in Jor-
dan has been rebuffed.
2. The Egyptian military at
tache in Saudi Arabia has been
recalled.
3. King Saud of Saudi Arab
is visiting young King Feisal of
1raq. further cementing rela-
tons between the Saudis, whom
Col. Nasser has tried to keep on
his side. not the Iraqis, who
have defied Egypt to join the
Ipro-West. anti Communist Bagh-
dad Pact.
4. Egyptian newspapers, a
prime agent for tanning Nasser
sentiment. have been banned
from Lebanon.
5. Libya. Egypt's western
neighbor. has drifted farther
away from Col. Nasser's influence
and closer to Uncle Sam by ac-
|cepting a second increment of
aid from President Eisenhower's
special ambassador to the Middle
East. James p. Richards.
SUDDEN Ethiopia Ties
6. The Sudanese. Egypt's
neighbors to the South, have re-
Gently cemented their relations
with Ethiopia by sending their
Prime Minister to Adds Ababa
for a state visit. Between them,
the Sudan and Ethiopia control
all the head-waters Of the Nile
River. on which Egypt's economy
depends.
Tunisia and Morocco have
again publicly exhibited their
GOODNESS toward Col. Nasser's
ambition to lead the whole Arab
world during the recent visits
of Ambassador Richards.
The general effect has been to
divide Egypt from her neighbors
and fellow Arabs.
Even Cairo's so-far-limited re-
action has implicit meaning for
Washington. The shrill protests
Of the Egyptian press over Elm
reference" In Jordan indicate to
officials here. first, that the turn
Of events there has hurt Col
Nasser and. second, that the Jor-
dan affair has unmasked. to Some
degree, the falseness Of Arab
unity under his leadership. .-
Press Criticizing Hussein
King Hussein Of Jordan. Q
brother Arab. now is being openly
attacked in the Egyptian press
This apparently means that
President Nasser is willing to
burn some bridges behind him
Returning to some kind OF
pretense Of Arab unity among
the four former associates, Egypt
Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan
will be a good deal more difficult
II the attacks on King Husseir
continue and the young monarch
keeps his royal seat.
AS the fratricidal Arab quar-.
rels become more open, United
States officials are led to expect
some Nasser move to recoup.
What is the range Of posi-
bilities open to him?
One obvious diversion would
be the election Of the 350-seat
National Assembly scheduled for
next July 3. American observers
do not dignity the procedure of
selecting candidates. which has
now begun, and the actual voting
as a practice Of democracy.
Overwhelming Support Likely
But they concede that the
election is likely to evoke an
Overwhelming expression of Col
Nasser's popularity which could
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