ULTIMATUM TO SYRIANS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28257, 20 April 1957, Page 11

ULTIMATUM TO SYRIANS

Troops Ordered To

Leave Jordan

Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) BEIRUT, April 18. . King Hussein of Jordan served an ultimatum on Syrian troop reinforcements in Jordan last week to return home or face the Iraqi Army and Air Force, informed sources said today. Syrian troops crossed Jordan’s northern frontier and occupied the town of Irbid on Sunday k na Uon-wide unrest in Jordan was stirred up “7 J“ e ““S’® dismissal of the pro-leftist Prime Minister, Mr Suleiman Nabulsi.

King Hussein drove at once to meet them, the reports said. He told their commander that unless they withdrew immediately he would call on the h-aqi Army and Air Force to help him oust them. King Feisal of Iraq is King Hussein’s cousin. The reports said that the Syrians, equipped with Soviet tanks a few hours before they moved into Jordan, withdrew on hearing King Hussein’s ultimatum.

pie same sources said that King Hussein also had asked the Syrian President, Shukri ElKuwatly, early this week to withdraw the Syrian brigade of 3000 troops sent to bolster Jordan’s defences during the Suez crisis last October.

Syria has denied this report. The withdrawal of the Syrian troops was believed to be one of the questions King Hussein wished to raise at a new Arab “summit” conference with President Kuwatly, the Egyptian President, Colonel Nasser, and King Saud of Saudi Arabia. Official sources in the Jordan sector of Jerusalem said today King Hussein had accepted the forced resignation of MajorGeneral Ali Abu Nuwar as Chief of Staff of Jordan’s Army. The King appointed MajorGeneral Ali Hayari to succeed General Nuwar, the sources said. General Hayari, a division commander, had been serving as acting Chief of Staff since General Nuwar was removed.

Major-General Hayari was regarded as one of Jordan’s leading officers, the American Associated Press reported today.

He had the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian who had never sought either popularity or political gain. He trained under Britain’s General Sir John Glubb, who was commander of Jordan’s Arab Legion, and remained a divisional commander when General Glubb was sacked from the legion a year ago, the American Associated Press reported. Staff College Graduate

Reuter reported from Amman today that the appointment of Major-General Hayari, who is 36 and a graduate of the British Staff College at Camberley, was considered a further important step in consolidation of King Hussein’s position after the crisis. It followed a long meeting between the King and the new Prime Minister. Dr. Khalidi, and senior army officers. General Hayari is a tough professional soldier who rose slowly through commissioned ranks.

He is credited by the Jordanians with being within a few hours of victory against the Israelis in Jerusalem in 1948 when the armistice was declared.

Observers say he has the full confidence of the King and of most of the army. There has been no official statement about General Nuwar’s position but it was understood he resigned his Army commission as well as giving up his command. For this reason the authorities need not hurry over a decision about his future, it was said. There have been unconfirmed reports that he suffered a nervous breakdown after the events of last week-end. Observers said that one of the signs of the times in Jordan was the confiscation last week-end of a number of Communist publications.

Before the crisis Communists worked openly but now they are less conspicuous, distributing news sheets and meeting at night.