NEW PACT ALLOWS IRAQIS TO ENTER JORDAN

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31384, 1 June 1967, Page 13

NEW PACT ALLOWS IRAQIS TO ENTER JORDAN

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

CAIRO, May 31. A top Egyptian leader will go today for talks in Baghdad and Damascus in the latest Arab move to align Arabs against Israel.

The authoritative Cairo newspaper “Al Ahram” announced that VicePresident Zakaria Mohieddin, the newly-appointed commander of the U.A.R. popular resistance forces, would hold important talks with the Iraqi president, Abdel Rahman Aref.

The talks will bear on yesterday’s surprise defence pact between Jordan and Egypt.

While King Hussein was in Cairo yesterday, he and President Nasser telephoned the Iraqi leader and discussed the deployment of Iraqi forces in Jordan along the border with Israel—a move Jordan has previously refused to accept “Al Ahram” said that from

Baghdad, Mr Mohieddin would go to Syria but did not inddicate what he would discuss there. One possibility was that he might try to patch up AmmanDamascus differences. King Hussein’s trip to Cairo was after three days of secret contacts between him and President Nasser, according to “Al Ahram.” Syrian, Iraqi and Algerian leaders and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (P.L.0.)

knew, beforehand of the visit. The newspaper said the pact had resulted in clearing the atmosphere between Amman

1 and the P.L.O. which have - been at odds for a long time. s At the signing ceremony, President Nasser said the 3 agreement represented a - strengthening of the entire Arab nation. J The Egyptian, Syrian, Leb- - anese and Jordanian armies 1 were all on Israel’s borders, ? backed up by Iraqi. Algerian, Kuwaiti and Sudanese forces, i he said. ) Radio War

Syria and Jordan have been waging a “radio war” for a long time and in its news bulletins yesterday Damascus Radio neither mentioned King Hussein’s unexpected arrival in Cairo nor his agreement with President Nasser. Syria has a joint defence agreement with the U.A.R. and the present Arab-Israeli crisis stems from Israeli threats of action to stop alleged terrorist attacks into Israel from across the Syrian border. According to Beirut reports, the Cairo-Amman agreement caused great excitement in the Jordanian capital and crowds marched through the streets carrying officers on their shoulders. While Iraqi troops are expected to start arriving in Jordan in a few days, “Al Ahram” reported that Iraqi units would start arriving in Egypt today to take up positions alongside U.A.R. forces in the Sinai desert. Some Kuwaiti units arrived yesterday.

Jordan in a few days, “Al Ahram” reported that Iraqi units would start arriving in Egypt today to take up positions alongside U.A.R. forces in the Sinai desert. Some Kuwaiti units arrived yesterday. Blockade Contesters In Washington United States officials reported that some progress was being made in lining up Western maritime powers to contest, the Egyptian blockade of the Gulf of Aqaba, the “New York Times” News Service said. With the support of the United States, Britain was said to be taking the initiative in rallying support for the principle of freedom of passage of all ships through the Straits offtran. According to officials deeply involved in the crisis, the Administration is now relying primarily upon concerted Western action to force President Nasser to lift his proclaimed blockade. The possibility of action by the maritime powers was i being held in reserve by the United States should the efforts to resolve the crisis through the United Nations fail, as United States officials generally expect. Little Hope In U.N. In view of the pro-Arab position assumed by the Soviet Union in the Security Council, American officials see little hope that the United Nations can help end the crisis. Nor do they expect President Nasser to accede to the American proposal made on Monday in the Security Council that the U-A.R. forgo its blockade during the breathing spell proposed by the Secretary-General, U Thant. At the United Nations Middle East peace moves were threatened today by possible Soviet and Egyptian objections to any immediate Security Council call for a cooling-off period and further mediation efforts by U Thant. Several of the 10 elected members of the council were in favour of a proposal which would call for maximum restraint by all parties to the dispute and also other member nations. They also wanted an appeal

made to U Thant to continue the peace-making role he began last week by going to Cairo. But informed sources said the United Arab Republic and the Soviet Union were against a resolution being tabled immediately as they wanted to buy more time. The United States, Jordan and Iraq were listed to speak today. View From Moscow Informed diplomatic observers in Moscow believe that the Kremlin was urging the Arabs to avoid a shooting war against Israel, United Press International reported. The consensus among diplomatic analysts in Moscow was that Soviet policy would stop at the brink of war.

While pledging aid to the Arabs should war actually break out, it is not in the Soviet interest, according to diplomatic sources, to see total war with its risk of escalation into an East-West confrontation.

Nor do diplomats in Moscow agree that the Russians can be cynically indifferent to the possible destruction of Israel—a professed article of faith of the Arab leaders.

Fire At Expo 67.—Fire yesterday destroyed priceless works of art and heavily damaged the interior of the Formosian p avilion at Expo 67. —Montreal, May 31 .