Middle East Rebuff New Threat To Eden

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 13

Middle East Rebuff New Threat To Eden

(Special Correspondent N Z.P.A.)

LONDON. March 6. Britain's rebuff in the Middle East has presented Sir Anthony Eden with what Parliamentary correspondents are calling his second political crisis of th*» year. The crisis in January was to a great degree largely newspaper-inspired The new one. it is stated, has a much more solid basis of anxiety on the Fart of all sections of Conservatives in Westminster. No national newspaper minimises in Bny way the possible consequences—particularly their effect on Israel —of the dismissal of General Glubb and other British officers from the Arab Legion, and many echo the words Used by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Gaits lr ell) in the House oi Commons debate that the dismissal constituted a major set-back for Briti“b policy in the Middle East. There is general approval, however. of the steps the British Government is preparing to take to protect British interests in the area—the postmg of a large part of the Transport Command fleet of Hastings aircraft to Cyprus, where there are now about 2ft-000 British servicemen, and consulting with the United States and France shout active measures to be taken to ®-al with any outbreak of hostilities between the Arab States and Israel.

The recall of British officers bonded to the Arab Legion is reported to have been decided upon order to avoid the possibility of ‘heir being riven unreasonable orders *o carry out. such as the taking of Action against Israeli positions along Jordan frontier. The political correspondent of the TJaily Telegraph'’ says that there is ho doubt that General Glubb's dis-

missal has been a severe shock to the Conservatives as a whole and that they await broader exposition of Sir Anthony Eden’s intentions with evident anxiety.

“If subsequent action does not measure up in resolution to what their supporters expect of them, it is clear the Government will be in serious difficulties.” the correspondent says. Events in the Middle East have also revived in some newspapers the movement against Sir Anthony Eden’s leadership. Randolph Churchill, in the “Evening Standard” (which says it has given him freedom to express his views even though they clash with its own policy), recalls that at the time of the Washington conference he reported that no substantial results had come from the meetings between Sir Anthony Eden and Mr Eisenhower “because no joint plan had emerged for coping with the deadly situation in the Middle East.” He was told, he said, how unkind it was to sav disagreeable things about a Prime Minister who was “doing his best.” Randolph Churchill said he did not doubt Sir Anthony Eden was doing his best, but he added “and this is why I am sure there has got to be. and nuickly. a change in the, occupancy of No. 10 Downing Street.”