Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-15
An Interview
With Dr.. MuIik
BY H. B. sHARABr

its resolve and never retreat" in
the face of international commu.
nism in the Middle East. said DR..
Charles Malik, pro-Western For-
eign Minister of Lebanon, in an
interview given on the eve of his
departure at the head Of Lee
banon's delegation to the United
Nations.
DR.. Malik is well known In the
United States as Lebanon's AM
bassador In Washington and his
country's chief representative at
the U. N. He is strong candi.
date for the presidency of the
U. N. General Assembly.
DR.. Malik expressed deep con-
Germ over the deteriorating situa-
ton in the Middle East and saw
a face-to-face meeting of the
United States and Russia in this
area. This to him constitutes the
apex of the Middle East crisis
from which there can be no re-
treat. Although the Communists
have recently made successful
thrusts in the Middle East, espe-
cially in Syria and Yemen, DR..
Malik believes that the initiative
Is still in the hands Of the West.
The Immediate Danger
With regard to the immediate
danger in Syria, DR.. Malik sees
the greatest danger coming from
allowing Communists and fellow.
travellers to seize political power.
when Communists or fellow.
travellers seize power It becomes
very difiicult to Gust them, for
they have q whole international
movement behind them with al
its infinite resources"
The United States, Or. Malik
believes. can vastly improve the
situation by assuring the Arabs
Of its irnpartiality with respect to
Palestine and Of its firm decision
to oppose any aggression against
them.
Asked how dangerous, In his
view, the present situation in the
Middle East was. DR.. Malik said:
Il believe 1t is distinctly more
dangerous than it ever was before.
The Communists are more en-
trenched than ever before and the
Americans are getting particularly
concerned about the matter. I call
especially dangerous the mo-
ment when. and the point at
which, these colossi stand directly
face TO face with each other. This
appears to be the case at present.
Furthermore. many countries
In the Middle East are. rightly or
wrongly. alarmed at recent Com
munist developments In the area.
Thus the atmosphere Is one Of
general alarm and fear"
Unknown FoctoFs
Asked whether he thought that
some sort Of solution Of the crisis
could be reached through diplo-
matte channels. he said:
II take it you are referring TO
the situation in Syria. I am In no
position to predict how this situa-
ton viii evolve, for I do not know
the exact agreements that. have
been reached between Syria and
the Soviet Union"
DR.. Malik made 1t clear that a.
far as his country, Lebanon. was
concerned. 1t desired TO promote
the friendliest possible relations
with Syria" and that at the same
time it has resolved to be and
remain part Of the free world"
Commenting on whether Syria's
Arab neighbors were capable Of
coping with the present crisis, Or.
Malik had this to say:
Il think they are. Everybody
now is consulting with everybody
else with q view Of q peaceful OUT
come Of the present crisis. But. -
! said. there are so many unknown
factors that it Is not possible to
foretell the future. When people
are In real danger they usually
call forth hidden resources that
they did not know or did not sus-
pect they possessed"
Regarding the sensitive question
Of the fight between -Commu-
mist and anti Communist activities
In the Arab world. DR.. Malika
stressed the Vests responsibility
In this matter and pointed out the
grievances which exist against the
West in the Middle East.
Much remains to be done -
counter the Communist thrust. The
just grievances which exist n the
Middle East against the West
should be removed a. much ~ pos
sible. At least, the peoples Of the
Middle East should be unmistak-
ably treasured Of the intention 70
remove these grievances. At least,
also. no room should b left In
their mind that further causes Of
grievance may be let loose among
them.
Imaginative schemes for social
and economic development should
be worked out. But the political
issues are the most important"
Cites Palestine Issue
DR.. Malik asserted that there
can be no hope for peace or sta
bility in the Middle East before
AN act Of justice" is done regard
ing the Palestine question. But
he saw no immediate prospect Of
Q Palestine settlement:
Il do not believe we are nearer
q settlement now than we were
before. The state Of no-actual-
warfare is about the utmost that
we can hope for at present. I
think much more could and must
be done for the refugees under
the United Nations. / think also
that the frozen assets Of the Arabs
should be released"
What steps should the United
States take?
Assure the Arabs that it 10
impartial with respect to Pales-
tine; assure them that 1t intends
to be Just to them: assure them
that It will decisively oppose any