“Arabs Do Not Want War”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31704, 13 June 1968, Page 2

“Arabs Do Not Want War”

Arabs with whom Mrs M. C. Stanaway mixed, during the four years she lived in the Jordanian sector of Jerusalem, wanted to live in peace with the Israelis as they had before the war in 1948.

The average man did not want war. Mrs Stanaway, whose husband went to Jerusalem as a United Nations military observer and after the Middle East war last year acted as liaison officer between the Jordanian Government and the United Nations, considers the situation political.

The Arabs and the Israelis were very different, she said, answering a question from a member of the Royal Overseas League which she addressed yesterday morning. “The Israelis are very Industrious and get on with the job. The Arabs sit round and talk about what they are going to do—but never do It” By working with the United Nations it was possible to

learn to understand both sides.

Mrs Stanaway and her three young children joined Lieutenant-Colonel Stanaway in Jerusalem. They settled in the Jordanian sector where the houses were larger and the cost of living much cheaper than In Israel. Vegetables and fruit were cheap and of good quality in the Jordanian sector; dairy products were superior in Israel where Mrs Stanaway shopped several times a week. “Meat was pretty dreadful In Jordan. We lived on minced fillet steak and chicken except for the occasional stock bought from Damascus where meat is very good,” she said.

Pride was strong among the Jordanians who did not like others to know they were doing menial tasks. Their maid always called herself a “baby-nurse.” Many of their customs were hard to understand and at first Mrs Stanaway tried to change everything in a few weeks until her husband asked “who is to say our way is right and theirs wrong?” Even when understanding came there were still frustrating days. When she refused to pay the electricity bill (which was very expensive) immediately after the meter was read, because she was not carrying sufficient money, the power was disconnected. “I conducted a tirade in the office, but nothing moves an Arab. *Madam,’ said the officer in charge, ‘do sit down and have coffee.’ “A MISTAKE”

“We made the mistake of treating our maid like one of the family which I found out later was wrong. She was a nice girl and a wonderful cook but she was always coming in late. One day I got cross and fired her. Next week 1 found she had a very good reason for being late and I apologised for not listening to her. “Somehow she managed to turn it round so that she was taking me back on trust,” said Mrs Stanaway. The family travelled a great deal while in Jordan. They had several trips to -Egypt, Cyprus, Syria and the Lebanon. The latter became their favourite and they found it ideal for camping trips.

After three- years in Jerusalem they could see signs of trouble ahead. Guns were being dug in and propaganda constantly broadcast Their Arab friends watched them, and kept asking them not to leave.

Mrs Stanaway did not want to leave the people she had become fond of but on May 27, 1967, her husband decided it was time for her and the children to go. They were evacuated to Cyprus and war broke out on June 5.

Asked yesterday whether she would like to see Jerusalem divided again Mrs Stanaway replied: “No, it's a tragedy to see a city divided. Families are split up and 1 have seen some very sad situations because of this.”