ALLIED FORCES IN PORT SAID

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28130, 20 November 1956, Page 15

ALLIED FORCES IN PORT SAID

Egypt Seeks Early Withdrawal

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) CAIRO, November 19. Egypt expected the withdrawal of British and French forces this week if possible, President Nasser’s polrt’cal adviser, Wing Commander Aly Sabry, said last

_ A. n informed Egyptian source last night said that the M r oV M nment v? d J O,< L the United Nations Secretary! General. Mr Hammarskjold, that the Suez Canal should be cleared only after foreign forces had left Egyptian territory.

hc<i a K, ree , ment with Mr Hammarskjold that the clearance of the canal should be carried out by compames from neutral countries such as Holland and Denmark. A British Army communique last night said that Egyptian troops in the Canal Zone had broken the cease-fire agreement with a machine-gun attack on British and French positions. The British forces did not reply.

ARMY’S GRIP ON SYRIA

(Rec; 10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 19. Syria is now completely in the grip of the Army, according to reports from the Middle East. • The Army has imposed martial law, seized all means of communications and virtually cut off the . country from the outside world, these reports say. A strict censorship applies. Travellers from Syria and Jordan in the last few days report that both countries are still gripped by the fear of a full-scale war with Israel, Britain and France. War conditions and restrictions are in operation. The tightest and most complete control of the civilian population is new being exercised by the Army Command in Syria. It has now, in fact if not in theory, taken control of all government departments and dictates the policy which even the President, Shukri Kuwatly, and his senior Ministers have to follow.

Joint Planning Alleged

(Rec. 9 pjn.) NEW YORK. Nov. 19 The United States State Department has information that there was some joint British-French-Israeli military planning before the Israeli invasion of Egypt, the “New York Times” reported today.

In a dispatch from Washington, the “New York Times” said that the State Department had reports that the Israelis received heavy shipments of military equipment from France about j the end’ of August, including Mystere jet fighters and light tanks. “At the beginning the Trench apparently had in mind building up the Israelis for a conflict with Egypt alone,” the ‘‘New York Times” report said. "But it appears that about October 13 the Israelis and French began talking about possible mint, but stagge ed. operations. “The British tacitly concurred about October 16, the day the Prime Minister. Sir Anthony Eden, and the Foreign Secretary. Mr oelwyn Lloyd visited Paris. “The- Israelis invaded the Sinai Peninsula on October 29, and the British and French followed with joint action against the Suez Canal area shortly after.”

Fighting In Algeria

(Bee. 8 p.m.) ALGIERS. Nov. 18 Insurgents in Surrounding hills opened fire on police who went to break up a demonstration by about 2900 Moslems near Saint Denis-du-Sxtz in the Oran region yesterday, according the reports reaching Algiers to day. Security forces called for air support and the operation was reported continuing today. The demonstration took place at the funeral of an insurgent who was killed in a security operation. In Algiers, last night, three European women were wounded by shott fired at them on their way home, police reported.

Student Killed on Snowdon.— A 21-year-old British university student. John Howard, fell 200 feet to his death from a neak near the summit of Mount Snowdon in Wales yesterday.—London. November 19.

Wing Commander Sabry. in a speech quoted by the Cairo Radio, said: ‘ Should the British and French fail to withdraw, the world will face a major crisis and nobody can prophesy the consequences of a delay in the withdrawal.”

While Egypt had decided not to accept the aid of volunteers because of her willingness to co-operate with the United Nations, if aggression began again “we shall willingly accept aid from anybody.” Wing Commander Sabry said.

A reliaole source said last night that Egypt had told Mr Hammarskjold that she would not pay the cost of clearing the canal, as she said she was not responsible for the events leading to it being blocked. In Port Said the British Commander, Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Stockwell, has asked higher authorities for new powers to tighten military control over Port Said to combat a campaign of intimidation and local passive resistance.

A modified form of military control was sought—not martial law or military government. Proclamations warning the people of Port Said that action will be taken, unless their behaviour improves, have been prepared A British spokesman said the command wished to exercise more control over the Egyptian Administration as well as over the uncooperative population, and to deal firmly with any organised intimidation.

There have been reports of cooperative Egyptians having been murdered, but no bodies have been found.

‘ARROGANCE’ OF SOVIET

Attack By Mr Dulles j (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 18. The United States Secretary of State (Mr Dulles) said today that the Soviet Union’s arrogant rulers had impeded a settlement of the Middle East fighting. He also accused them of promiscuous slaughter in their war against Hungary. I ‘‘Free nations cannot relax their . vigilance in the face of such arro- • gance and such violations of human principle,” he said. Mr Dulles issued his statement as he left for Key West. Florida, to recuperate from an intestinal operation. Mr Dulles said he thought “we are . . on the right track” in the Middle East. But it would be a great mistake to believe that peace could be established permanently in the area “merely by emergency measures to stop the fighting.” He did not say what steps he might have in mind. President Eisenhower has said the United States will guarantee the Israel and Arab borders if the fighting is halted, will try to improve economic conditions in the area, and will try to solve the problem of Arab refugees. < Mr Dulles’s statement did not touch on the Soviet Union’s new disarmament proposals, published yesterday Tn his indictment of Soviet Middle East policy, Mr Dulles said that the Russians had tried to substitute themselves for the United Nations instead of acting as a co-operative member. Other diplomatic sources .said that reports reaching Washington showed that the Soviet Union had been working behind the scenes to block a settlement of the dispute, intervening directly with the Egyptian Government. “In contrast to the positive influence of the United Nations in the Near East stands the conduct of the Soviet rulers,” Mr Dulles said. “In defiance of United Nations resolutions, they engaged in war against Hungary, with promiscuous slaughter.”