dated July 24, 1951: Portents for Middle East

From the Editorial: `The assassination of King Abdullah, of Jordan may add to the growing ferment in the Middle East. The King, though of outstanding ability, was unpopular for several reasons. His friendship for the British was not liked, nor the fact that British officials could attend meetings of his Cabinet and the Legislative Assembly. Jordan alone gained a large slice of territory in the Palestine war, and Abdullah could claim to be the saviour of Old Jerusalem where he was murdered. Though he took three Palestine Arabs into his Cabinet, his moderation on the Palestine issue was held against him. He might have come to an agreement with Israel if the problem of Arab refugees from Palestine had not remained unsettled. Egypt and Saudi Arabia looked upon Abdullah's plan for a Greater Syria as threat to the balance of power among the Arab states. Jordan also signed treaties of friendship with Iraq and Turkey after 1947 to strengthen her position vis-a-vis the other members of the Arab League. It is believed in Syria that, with Abdullah's death, Arab solidarity against Israel will increase, and the Arab League get strengthened while British influence will wane. Much depends on the successor to King Abdullah and there is the possibility that, in Jordan itself, the dastardly murder will actually strengthen the policies which the late King so successfully pursued... The Jordanians may realise that their State is essentialy a British creation. A strong anti-British policy might help certain other members of the Arab League, but it may not further the interests of Jordan.''

Petain passes away

Ex-Marshal of the French Army, Henri Philippe Petain, lying in deep coma for three days, died on the lonely Ile d'Yeu, island in France on the 23rd, aged 95. One of the most controversial figures of his country Philippe Petain had lived through more than 100 French governments and seen three wars against Germany. He attained the highest honours his country could bestow on a soldier, but died a noble but tragic figure condemned by his own compatriots.Petain was serving out a life sentence in the 19th century fortress on the Ile of Yeu, shorn of privilege and power.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Miscellaneous
Previous : Meditation helps to control the mind
Next     : Weather