UNREST IN ARABIA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29395, 23 December 1960, Page 11

UNREST IN ARABIA

Princes May Revolt LONDON, Dec. 22. The dismissal of the Saudi Arabian Cabinet by King Saud has exposed the Middle East to the danger of revolt by a group of hot-headed, pro-Nasser young princes, according to the “Daily Mail.” The princes supported the dismissed Prime Minister. the King’s brother, Prince Faisal, aged 55, whose position the King has taken over. Only six months ago the group —known as the Free Pr-inces—-had accused the King of squandering the £2 million a week royalties he received from the Arabian Oil Company. They warned they would oust him if he committed “new political and financial mistakes.” Almost to a man they had backed the frail, ailing Prince Faisal in his efforts to straighten out the budget and cut down on the Cadillacs ordered in convoys. They supported the retrenchment he ordered as a result of the Saudi rial falling from 11 in the £ to 16. King Saud would run into a headlong clash with President Nasser, said the “Daily Mail.” Cairo Radio blamed King Saud for plotting against the union of Egypt and Syria, and implicated him in an alleged £22 million plot to assassinate President Nasser in March, 1958. It was because of this alleged plot that President Nasser gave his support to Prince Faisal, The Prince, unlike his brother, had no ambitions for leadership of the Arab world and was willing to accept President Nasser’s leadership.