The Press MONDAY, JULY 3, 1961. Intervention In Kuwait

Press, Volume C, Issue 29555, 3 July 1961, Page 10

The Press MONDAY, JULY 3, 1961. Intervention In Kuwait

After the threats from Iraq and troop movements near the Kuwait border, the news that a British force has arrived in Kuwait and is standing by is not surprising. This action must have been judged in Kuwait and Britain as the surest way of causing the Iraqui dictator, General Kassem, to hesitate. It would have been one thing for the man in possession to confront world opinion with an accomplished fact. It is quite another for the Iraqui dictator to be where he was, but in a position of having to answer for his threats to the United Nations Security Council. No doubt, unfriendly people will charge Britain with having acted from selfinterest. Earnings from the investment in Kuwait oil are indeed highly important to the British economy, but whoever was in control of the territory of Kuwait would have to deal with the legal owners of the oil, as Persia realised after Dr. Mussadiq had expropriated Britain’s oil installations—

and found Persian oil unsaleable.

Britain may fairly claim to have acted in the interests of peaceful settlement of a particular dispute, and

for the maintenance of order in the area in general There is reason to believe that in Kuwait Iraq hoped to set off a series of coups in its favour in the Persian Gulf sheikhdoms. The British intervention in Jordan in 1958 at King Hussein’s invitation and the United States intervention in Lebanon, also in 1958, at the invitation of President Chamoun had stabilising effects in the Middle East The same can be hoped from the present action. That Saudi Arabia has joined Britain in protective measures at the invitation of the Ruler of Kuwait effectively answers any charges Iraq might make about the British action being anti-Arab. Anxiety will persist until the situation is stabilised, and it must be hoped that General Kassem has not so committed himself that he is unable to withdraw. When the issue comes before the Security Council on the proper initiative of Kuwait Russia can either try to make mischief or help reduce the dangers in this area. Realisation that some of its recent performances in the Middle East have been inept may influence Russia to take a reasonable attitude.