Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-15
Russia Fosters
Fear of West
By NED MAKDIsI

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eminent employe Of Syrian de-
scent received a letter from his
20-year-old nephew in HONS,
Syria. The young man, who has
been educated in American
schools, was commenting on the
present crisis In his country:
I'VE are being wrongfully ac-
cused by the United States Of
falling under Communist DOM
ination. 1t is true that we are re-
ceiving economic and military aid
from the Soviet Union. but 1t is
being offered with no strings at.
tached. Furthermore, we only ac-
cepted Soviet aid after other ma
tions. including the United States,
refused to help US.
you may ask why we didn't
accept the Eisenhower doctrine
and my answer is that we refused
it because 1t is conditional on
concluding peace with Israel and
aligning ourselves with the i'm
perialists against the Soviet
Union. Now / am not q Com
munist. not even a Community
sympathizer. But I am most GER
tainly against my country be-
coming an enemy Of the Soviet
Union which has given us so much
and asked for nothing in return"
The twisted logic Of this young
Syrian is being echoed today by
the majority Of the people and
press Of his country. 1t attests
to the subtlety Of the Soviet prop
uganda machine. which has been
successful in portraying the
United States as . war-mongering
power with designs on syria's in
dependence. while presenting the
Soviet Union IS an altruist.
Soviet Fear Tactics
Soviet propaganda In the area
seems to be based on arousing in
the Arabs in general, and the
Syrians. in particular, the fear Of
an impending attack. BY charg-
ing a Joint Turkish-Israeli plot
against Syria. Soviet Foreign Min
lister Gromyko succeeded in add
ing fuel to the already tense situ-
alton. Also. Mr.. Gromyko's we'll
timed charge that the United
States has dispatched its Sixth
Fleet to the Eastern Mediterra-
mean to squeeze Syria and other
Arab countries into an economic
blockade" has put this country
further on the defensive.
In any assessment of feelings
in the Arab states. one thing must
always be remembered. In spite
Of the political and nationalNbar-
riers between the Arab countries,
their peoples all consider them
selves Arabs first, and Iraqis. Jor-
danians, or Syrians next.
The affinity OF Arab NATIONAL
ism supersedes all other relation
ships. including pacts. doctrines
and afiiliation with the two ma
jor world camps.
Further. the Arab masses are
little concerned over the ideolog-
ical leanings Of any government
Thus. TO expect Syria's Arab
neighbors to be alarmed over the
growth Of Soviet influence III Sy-
ria and the shipment Of Com
munist arms to that country is,
as far as the Western powers are
concerned. self-deceiving. On the
contrary. the masses in Syria's
Arab neighbors were happy when
Syria began receiving ornaments
from the Soviet Union Just as the
Syrians are happy today about
the shipment Of American arms
to Jordan. Lebanon. and Iraq.
A comment last week by an Of
fetal Of one Of the pro- Western
Arab embassies in Washington IL
illustrates the strong Arab unity
that bridges national lines.
Why. you couldn't get soldiers
Of my country to 60 into Syria"
he said. 1T would be like the
people Of New York going to war
against the people Of Pennsyl-
vania."
Consequently. the leaders Of the