SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAQ

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 11

SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAQ

Fear Of Nasser’s Policies

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, September 21. A new link between Iraq and Saudi Arabia is forecast in “The Times” today. The newspaper was commenting on the meeting between Kir*' Feisal and King Sand at the Persian port of Damman. Its Bagdad correspondent said that an Iraqi Government statement gave the meeting a casual air, but it was widely accepted in the city that it was more than just a friendly meeting. The three days of meetings were likely to lead to a new treaty of mutual assistance, covering military, political, and economic affairs. The meetings began yesterday. “The meeting is probably of momentous significance,” the “Daily Mail” said. The newspaper’s Beirut correspondent said that the dynasties of the two monarchies had been at loggerheads for decades—the Hashemites of Iraq accusing the Wahabites of Saudi Arabia of usurping the throne of Hedjaz. The two Kings see a possible serious loss of oil royalties, if the Suez traffic is interrupted, the correspondent said. They also see two other dangers confronting themselves as a result of Colonel Nasser’s policies—a weakening of the defensive ring around Israel if Colonel Nasser is forced to deploy forces elsewhere, and chaos and anarchy throughout the Middle East if Colonel Nasser persists in introducing Soviet and other Iron Curtain countries to the area.