Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-22
Iraqi Movement
Across Jordan
Line Reported
Cairo Accounts Are
Discounted by Syrior
And lsrueli Sources

BEIRUT. Lebanon, April q
R1.-Cairo radio and news agen.
cies spread a report today that
1raqi troops had moved into
Jordan, taking up threatening
positions near Syrian forces en-
camped in the desert kingdom
The report was discounted in
Syria and Israel.
The Egyptian Middle East
News Agency said Iraqi troops
camped near Ell Mafraq in north
ern Jordan. and that Syrian
President Shukhri Kuwatly had
asked King Hussein of Jordan
to try to avoid a clash between
Iraqis and Syrians.
A reliable source in Damascus
said King Hussein, in a tele-
phone talk with Mr.. Kuwatly
declared there was no truth in
the report.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry
spokesman in Jerusalem also
said the report should be re-
ceived with skepticism. The
spokesman said the Cairo radio
had broadcast a report only in
Hebrew. apparently for its effect
on Israel. that an entire Iraoi
tank division had rolled into
Jordan. The spokesman said
such a troop movement would
cause grave concern" in Israel
Help in Keeping Throne
Israeli intelligence sources in
Tel Aviv reported, however, that
1000 Iraqi troops had moved up
to Jordan's border, presumably
to assist King Hussein in keep
ing his throne, if need be. These
sources added that another
1000 Syrians had crossed into
Jordan, reinforcing the 5000
already near Mafraq. Syrian
troops have been in northern
Jordan since the invasion of
Egypt last fall. Saudi Arabian
troops are in South Jordan.
During Jordan'S recent po-
itical crisis, when Hussein dis
missed the government Of Pre-
mier Suleiman Nabuisi, along
with the Communist and leftisi
elements. there were fears In the
Middle East that the monarchy
might collapse and that Jordan's
neighbors might rush in to dis
member the country.
Mr.. Nahulsi. foreign minister
In the new government, charged
last night that certain foreign
diplomatic missions" had inter-
fered in Jordan's affairs. He did
not name the mission but his re-
marks followed demands BY
some Jordan leftists that the
United States Ambassador be ex-
PEELED from the country.
Two former chiefs of Jordan's
army, now in exile in Syria. also
charged foreign interference in
the little country. and one OF
them named the United States
Free Jordan Move Denied
Mai. Gen. Ali Hayari, who be-
came chief of staff of the Jor-
dan army after the crisis and
kept the job only one day be-
fore resigning. denied a report
he was planning to form a free
Jordan army"
Gen. Hayari said the report
that he and Mai. Gen. Ali Abu
Nuwar. his predecessor, intended
to form such an army in exile
was an "imperialistic" invention
which probably was engineered
by the ousted British Gen. John
Club. aimed at creating Tn
rest in Jordan's army"
Gen. Club, dismissed last
year by King Hussein, said in
London the story he was trying
10 stir up trouble was "ridicu-
lous and absolute rot"
1T is fashionable in parts OF
the Middle East these days
when some people get into trou.
BILE. to blame Britain or tbs
United States" said Gen. Club
Gen. Hayari charged last week
that palace officials" had plot.
ted "in agreement with foreign
non Arab military attache.