Facing West?

Leaders of the Arab League's seven-member nations met in Cairo last week for an emergency conference. Topic: the Arab world's position in the conflict between Communism and the West. Immediate issue: whether the Arabs would continue their U.N. policy of appeasing Red China.

Iraq's Premier Nuri Al-Said urged that the Arab nations formally renounce neutrality, line up firmly with the West, and organize a joint Middle Eastern army, eventually to be put under NATO. There were reservations: Egypt, for instance, wants British troops to leave the Suez Canal Zone, put the canal's defense under an international authority. Syria favors a Middle Eastern regional organization.

Despite reservations, the Arabs seemed to be facing in a more westerly direction than they have taken in many months.

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