Hussein'snangerous Game
By JOSHUA H. JUSTMAN
(Copyright, 1964, <PTA, Inc.)
JERUSALEM — Observers here
are puzzled- and disturbed -- by
the strange spectacle of the devel-
Oping relations between Jordan's
'King Hussein and Egypt's Col.
Abdul Nasser.
For nearly nine.years now, Hus-
sein has openly been accusing Nas-
ser of aggressive activities aimed
at the overthrow of his regime.
These accusations were on more
than one occasion substantiated by
tangible evidence which included
the uncovering of plots and the
explosion of bombs in Amman—
one of which missed Hussein by a
Nasser himself -hardly' hid his
feelings towards Hussein and, in
his uttering. made generous use
of the rich Arab vocabulary to ex-
press the full measure of his dis-
ain for the Hashemite ruler, set-
g the tone for the Egyptian
pr and radio.
,
• * •
ince 1955, when Hussein ex-
pelled the British officers from
his Legion. Nasser tried hard to
fill the "vacuum" and, throughout
the years, Hussein was engage _ d in
an incessant struggle against Nas-
ser's "take-over" attempts.
The recent rapprochement be-
tween King Huessin and Gamal
Abdel Nasser thus is a baffling
development, since nothing has
changed to have made the Nasser-
ist threat to the weak Jordanian
kingdom less precarious.
Not only did Hussein visit Cairo
several times in the past months.
The Egyptian Chief of Staff paid
a visit to Amman and, for the first
time since 1955, a declared pro-1
Nasserist = Kadri Toukan — was I
named Jordanian Foreign Minister.
Also, most political prisoners
sentenced for their pro-Nasserist I
activities were released. Egyptian
papers, banned for many years,
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are again filling Jordan's news-
stands, and Nasser's pictures again
are widely displayed.
• * *
What has brought about this
sudden change? Does Hussein
really believe that the danger in-
herent in . a Nasserist penetration
is over? Does he really believe
that close cooperation with Nasser
is ' possible without endangering
the very existence of his throne?
The rapprochement taking place
invoLves not only gestures of a
political nature. Since the visit to
Amman of Egypt's vice president
and the head of its armed forces,
Marshal Abdul Hakim Amir, a. re-
organization is • taking place also
within Jordan's armed forces, and
nearly 90 veteran officers have
been replaced by younger men'
The significance of this lies in
the fact that the dismissed °MI
cers were of tested and proven
loyalty to the king, whilst the new
appointments were, made chiefly
on the basis of ability. Does Hus-
sein really feel that, in determin-
ing his military establishment, he
can afford to put ability before
loyalty?
* * •
Several weeks ago King Hussein
visited Teheran where he tried to
mediate betwen the Persian Shah
and Nasser—and, by the way, also
urged the Iranian ruler to "sus-
pend" relations with Israel. The
Shah was outspoken. He warned
Hussein that a rapprochement
with Nasser would doom his rule.
Hussein — according to reports
here—was quite impressed by the
Shah's arguments and assured him
that he was quite aware of the
dangers involved but that he "knew
Nasser better than many seem
to think."
The implication of it seems to
be that, by his flirtation with Nas-
ser, he is merely serving his own
aims without in any way jeopard-
izing his interests.
What are these aims?
It would seem that Hussein
hopes to utilize his "friendship"
with Nasser as a means of pres-
sure on the West.
Parallel to the improving Am-
man-Cairo relation.s, Hussein has
been presenting Washington with
demands for military assistance,
including tanks and planes. These
demands are accompanied by
"hints" that, unless his demands
are met, he would have no choice
but to accept indirect Soviet arms
through Nasser. The same goes for
Western economic aid. In the past
year, this aid amounted to nearly
$100,000,000. Hussein is now tell-
ing Washington and London that
he must have more to avert too
heavy dependence upon Nasser.
* While allowing the Husseinis
diplomatic skill, observers wond-
er whether he may not one day
find himself "out-smarted" by his
"big brother" of the Nile and
solidly hitched to Nasser's wagon.
He may well find Nassar firmly
entrenched inside Jordan and with
little choice left but to follow suit
—or disappear.
Both Prime Minister Eshkol and
Chief of Staff Rabin have sound-
ed stern warnings that Israel
would not stand by idly, should
Egyptian influence increase in
Jordan to the extent of placing
Jordan's forces under a. joint --
and Egyptian-dominated — com-
mand. The Chief of Staff reiterat- .
ed that Israel would be compelled
to take the necessary steps to
safeguard its security, should Jor-
dan become subject to Egyptian
control in , one way or another.
Observers here feel that Hus-
sein's political game vis-a-vis Nas-
ser is fraught with dangers and the
sooner the Western powers make
it clear to him and take a firm
stand to avert a possible upset of
the area's precarious status quo—
the better:
"Nothing solid comes of a senti-
ment. Power is built on work."—
George Meredith.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, September 18, 1964-9
•
Enchanting Youth -Novel: Woman in Revolutionary Era
Mary Stetson Clarke, a native of
Massachusetts who is making a
deep study of historical events re-
lating to the Revolutionary period,
states that as a young girl she "had
spent many happy days at Wingaer
sheek Beach in West Gloucester
and daydreamed of the Revolu-
tionary farmers and slaves who
had repulsed a British landing
there. Delving into the history of
that familiar territory took me
down many fascinating avenues,
and opened vistas into the past
that I am still hoping to explore."
In her new story for young peo-
ple, "Petticoat Rebel," published
-by Viking Press, she already has
explored valuable i4nues relating
to the subject that enchants her.
It is a most illuminating his-
torical novel for young people. It
relates how the prejudice against
women .as teachers' was broken
Candace—Dacie—Tyb-
down
bot began .to teach in Gloucester.
The men had gone to war for free-
dom and that's how the bias against
women was br ken down.
Perhaps is was the beginning
of feminism. In Mrs. Clarke's
story, splendidly illustrated by
Robert MacLean, the 16-year-old
Dacie assumes an important role
and she fills an important need
of the time
i this
Adding to the fascination in
story is the manner in which Dacie
World Bank Refuses
treats a freed slave, her interest in
New Loans to UAR
people, her devotion to duty.
Dacie befriends Rafe Sanders,
LONDON (JTA) — The World
Bank has announced that it will no who became < a prisoner of war of
longer make loans to Egypt and the British. Dater Rafe plays a
two other countries because they rather mysterious role, disappear-
expropriate foreign private invest- ing without explanation. When
ment without fair. compensation, it
was reported here.
George D. Woods, president of
the bank, known formally as the
International Bank for Reconstruc-
tion and. Development, announced
the ban on further loans to Egypt
at the conclusion of the bank's five-
day' annual meeting in. Tokyo. The
other two countries barred from
borrowing World Bank funds are
Ceylon and Indonesia.
Loans by the World Bank to
Egypt through' last June totaled
$49,250,000, all of which has been
disbursed.
It was reported from Moscow,
meanwhile, that Egyptian Prime
Minister Ali Sabri will arrive in
the Soviet capital next week to dis-
cuss the use of credits announced
when Premier Khrushchev visited
Cairo last May. Khrushchev prom-
ised the Nasser government a long-
term credit totaling $280,000.000 in
addition to economic and military
aid already provided.)
Related Story, Page 32.
'As the Sand of the Sea
The number of the children of
Israel shall be as the sand of the
sea, which cannot be measured nor
numhered; and it shall come to
pass, that in the place where it
was said unto them, Ye are not my
people, there it shall be' said, unto
them, Ye are the sons of the living
God. ` —Hosea 1:10
Dacie learns that he was engaged
in an important military role in
behalf of the new American nation,
on orders from George Washington,
her interest in him groWs, and the
friendship is strengtheeed.
All aspects of "Petticoat Rebel"
make it , a most impressive, informa-
tive and entertaining story.
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