New Leverage

The U.S. at long last is getting ready to build a positive policy in the Middle East. The news was announced, in a backhanded way, by Secretary of State Dean Acheson during a press conference last week. He had just rebuked Egypt's Prime Minister for kicking up the dust over the presence of British troops along the Suez Canal (see FOREIGN NEWS). Acheson added that "new proposals" had already been prepared and were being offered to the Egyptian Government. The new plan would, said he, "contribute to the defense of the free world in which the Middle East plays such an important role."

The proposals allow Egypt to tear up her one-sided treaty with Britain, and join as an equal partner in a five-power Middle East command of the U.S., Britain, France and Turkey. The command would have its headquarters in Egypt, and would try to enlist other Moslem nations in a solid defense bloc against the Russians. Last week General Omar Bradley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs, was in Paris and Ankara to explore military problems of a long-neglected and vital strategic area. Cairo's cold reception to the proposals indicated that he might be too late.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.