New Bid To Repair Arab League Split

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29916, 1 September 1962, Page 11

New Bid To Repair Arab League Split

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright) SHTL'RA (Lebanon), August 31. The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Abdel Hassouna, is expected to leave Shtura for Cairo today to try to persuade the United Arab Republic to retain its membership of the Arab League.

The Arab League Council adjourned early today without reaching a decision on the Syrian allegation of Egyptian interference in Syrian Internal Affairs, the British United Press reported. The Egyptian delegation walked out of the meeting on Tuesday because of alleged insults by the Syrians. The league’s insistence that the U.A.R. has withdrawn

only from the council is in sharp contrast to continuing Cairo Radio broadcasts announcing Egypt's complete withdrawal from the league. The U.A.R. was not represented at the last session of the conference, which lasted about three hours. The meeting decided to hold over the Syrian complaint until the next meeting of the league. In spite of Syrian objections, the council passed a three-point resolution which said:

‘The Arab League Charter Council is unable to consider the case due to

the Egyptian withdrawal from the League Council. ‘This extraordinary session of the League Council remains open and the next meeting will be

held as soon as possible. ‘Member States should take the necessary steps to strengthen the league by respecting its charter and uniting all members in order to permit it to continue to work in the Arab cause."

Several countries brought pressure to bear on Syria at today’s meeting in a bid to obtain league action without slamming the door on Egypt, the British United Press said.

The Lebanon and Algeria are believed to have played a big role in drafting the resolution, which originally contained only the first two points. The third point was included only at Syria’s insistence.