FRIGATES HEAD FOR KUWAIT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 11

FRIGATES HEAD FOR KUWAIT

Week-end Attack By Iraq Possible (N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) LONDON, June 30. Two British frigates are expected in the Persian Gulf today, heading for the oil-rich Sheikhdom of Kuwait, which was claimed as Iraqi territory soon after it gained independence last week. In Washington, United States officials said last night that the State Department had received reports that there was a possibility of an Iraqi attack at the week-end.

The British Foreign Office if in London early today re. f fused to comment on the‘l Washington report. ; I A British Ministry of De- t fence spokesman said last night that the Government was ready to assist Kuwait if j t the Government of Kuwait so requested. ! t In Hong Kong, it has been; reported that two other frigates, the Yarmouth and j c the Llandraff. left suddenly t for Singapore. arousing , speculation that they were j heading for the Kuwait area A spokesman said the aircraft carrier Victorious was also turned round and sent ; to Singapore. a In London, an Admiralty ir spokesman said: “I can sayjc nothing about redeployment I in that area.” | a Commando Carrier ! 2 In Bahrein, a British Gov-' ernment spokesman said the:' 22.000-ton commando carrier ! ’ Bulwark would arrive in; c Kuwait for a “normal! * routine’* visit in two to three ' days. It would remain there! for a few days. . f A military spokesman injt Nairobi said the 24th Infantryjs Brigade Group was ready to leave for the Sheikhdom if 1 1 ordered. !; In London, the British Gov-1 ernment said yesterday it did‘ t not accept “in any way”! c General Kassem’s claim fori e Iraqi sovereignty over f Kuwait. g The Deputy Foreign-Secre- ” tary (Mr Edward Heath* told the House of Commons: ■ s “The Government have been p in consultation with the! J Government of Kuwait and. |; have assured the ruler ofjr their support.” jt In Kuwait itself, which s gained complete independ- a ence last week after 62 years; of British protection, security! police arrested a number of alleged Iraqi subversives and |F agitators. They were said to E be planning acts of sabotage1 0 on the refinery. i F Reports reaching Nicosia J said Kuwait had closed her;' border with Iraq, but the! Deputy Ruler of Kuwait;! < Sheikh Abdullah al Mubarak as Sahabi said in Beirut last;" night that the borders wereL still open. He said the situa- . tion in Kuwait was “very! I calm” and that the people J there felt secure. f Reuter reported from Cairo that the authoritative news-!-paper "Al Ahram" reported ” that Iraqi forces had moved L to the borders of Kuwait. i [ Quoting United Arab Re.; c public official circles. the! c newspaper said two Iraqi brigades, fully armed and a equipped, had gone up to the f borders I = The tension in the Mid< le t East exploded into gunfire lc yesterday. Iraqi patrol boats were re- l

ported in Teheran to have fired on Persian motor launches taking food to Kuwait across the head of the Persian Gulf. The reports, received from travellers and the skippers of the motor launches, said they were trying to take food from Abadan to Kuwait. Other reports received in Teheran said that some Saudi Arabian troops arrived in Kuwait yesterday and are oatrolling the frontier with Iraq. Reinforcements The Associated Press reported from Kuwait that armoured reinforcements moved up to Kuwait’s illdefined northern border with Iraq today to face Iraqi armour, said in Kuwait to amount to two brigades. British-built armoured cars with Kuwaiti crews rolled through the capital in the early hours before dawn and headed for the border 30 miles away. Officials said that Iraqi forces on the border were built uo after General Kassem laid claim to Kuwait. Kuwait was quiet today, the Associated Press re. ported Reports from Cairo say that President Nasser . has cabled the Sheikh of Kuwait expressing the United Arab Republics support for the Sheikhdom’s independence. The cable said: "The independence of Kuwait represents a free choice of its people. Inasmuch as the principles emanate from popular consciousness of Arabs and require our attention at all times, we pledge ourselves to I steadfastly defend them against ail dangers.” Jurisdiction Claim A Bagdad newspaper carried on its front page a photographic copy of a 59-year-old document which it said proved Kuwait was under the jurisdiction of the Basra Province of Iraq. Jordan is reported to be seeking to ease the tension between Iraq and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The Jordan Prime Minister (Mr Bahjat Talhounii told reporters Jordan had not yet received an invitation to attend the Arab League's emergency meeting on Kuwait on July 17. but would attend if invited. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times" portrayed Britain as being in a dilemma about moves concerning Kuwait. ’The British Government are watching the situation in Kuwait closely and with some concern, as the precautionary moves, taken yesterday. show clearly enough. "For British policy there is. however, a dilemma. The

British Government are clearly determined to respond to a request from the ruler of Kuwait for support, including military help. To be in a position to do so effectively. they must take some preparatory measures now, as they are doing. “At the same time they clearly have no wish whatever to provoke the very action by the Iraq Government which present British moves are designed to counter, if necessary.” The “Daily Express” said: “Britain is only waiting for its ruler to say the word and we send in troops to beat off any attack by General Kassem of Iraq—now reported to have moved his forces to Kuwait’s border." The "Daily Mail” said: “The view of the British Government is that it would be a much better thing for Arab troops to be used in Kuwait if this became necessary rather than bring in Western forces. ” An Associated Press report from Tokyo said Communist China was apparently supporting Kuwait’s opposition to the Iraq claim. The Communist New China News Agency quoted the Prime Minister (Mr Chou Enlai) as saying today in a message to the ruler of Kuwait: “May the people of Kuwait achieve further success in safeguarding national independence and building their country.” Reuter reported that the Indian Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) said today India would Continue to regard Kuwait as an independent entity. “We have treated Kuwait as a separate entity for a considerable time, and we propose to continue to treat Kuwait as an independent entity.” he told a press conference.