Evening star., 1960-02-23
BY RUTH DEAN
Star Stah Writer


the 228th anniversary of
George Washington'S birth,
toasts were drunk at a Wash
ington embassy last night
honoring the father of the
United Arab Republic"
Yes, we look upon Presi-
dent Camel NaSser as the
George Washington of the
United Arab Republic, UAR
Ambassador DR.. MouStafa
Kamel told an American
guest, one of several hundred
who filed through the receiv-
ing line for the reception
celebrating the young repub-
lies second anniversary.
An embassy spokesman
pointed out that the observ-
ance, repeated in UAR en-
basSies throughout the world.
not only celebrated the union
of Egypt and Syria into the
UAR two years ago but that
it was also a tribute to Nasser
because he liberated us from
foreign occupation very much
as your George Washington
did during your Revolution
ary War"
Attending the party was a
large turnout of ambassadors
and their wives, many of
them from Arabic and Asian
as we'll as Iron Curtain
countries.
Crowded Rooms
Stealing the show for
awhile were Soviet AmbaSsa-
dor and Mrs. MenShikov
who leisurely made their
way through the crowd
shaking hands and chatting
as they went. a few minutes
with Indian Ambassador
and Mrs. Chagla, a few more
with Afghanistan Ambassa-
dor and Mrs. Maiwandwal,
a CHEEKY greeting to United
States Information Agency
Director George V. Allen. and
so on through the room,
which at one point was so
crowded there wasn't even
elbow-bending room.
The dining room presented
even more of a crowded sit
uation. At one point there
was a double line of guests
descending on the laden buff
fet in flying wedge forma-
ton but not doing much
flying" So great was the
crush that most stood and
ate what they managed to
serve on their plates at the
table position where their
part of the line had stopped
moving.
One guest offered logi-
cal explanation for the
crush. 1t being a holiday al
most all of the TOO invites
came at the same time in
stead of in small groups as
is most often the case on a
working day when varied
quitting hours and rush.
hour traffic act as natural
deterrantS to on-the-dot ar
rival.
Adding an extra color note
to the occasion we're the
many national costumes
worn by the ambassadors
wives, especially the ones
from Eastern countries. Mrs.
Chagla. the Indian Ambas-
sador's wife, wore an ethereal
looking white chiffon sari.
while Mrs. Notowidigdo, wife
of the Indonesian Ambas-
sador, was wearing one of
her country's famous batiks
which formed the skirt of
her costume.
Exchange Of Wit
Burmese Ambassador Sein
indulged in a little diplomatic
wit with UAR First Sec
retary Makhlouf when he
observed that the UAR'S
three ambassadors to Wash
ington, the United Nations
and to Canada are all bach
elors. why aren't they mar
ried?" he said teasingly. and
DR.. Makhlouf kidded back,
II guess this proves we don't
believe in haremS."
Highest American official
at the reception was Deputy
Undersecretary of State Ray
mond Hare. whose last am
bassadorial post was in
Cairo. The Hares must have
felt very much at home in
the gathering as he has spent
almost 36 years in the Mid
die East, serving a good part
of that time as ambassador
to several Middle Eastern
countries. Also there from
the State Department were
the Assistant Secretary for
Near Eastern Affairs and
Mrs. Lewis Jones, and As
sistant Secretary for Public
Affairs Edwin KretZmann.