World Events in a Month

World Events in a Month

The United Nations Security Council met on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 29, 1956, and studied Mr. Hammarskjöld's report on his peace mission in the Middle East and the results of his contacts with the Arabs and Israel concerning the easing of tension on the Arab–Israeli borders.

Britain submitted to the Council a draft proposal on this subject, but the Arab states opposed the British draft on the ground that it omitted mention of Israel's undertaking not to divert the course of the River Jordan.

And while the Security Council was studying the Secretary-General's report and Britain's proposals, King Hussein and President Quwatli were renewing, in the mihrab of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the oath they had proclaimed at the tomb of Saladin in Damascus.

After the Crown Prince of Yemen had postponed his visit to Russia owing to a sudden turn in his health, he went on to make the visit in answer to an official invitation received from the Soviet Union.

In Egypt, diplomatic observers doubt that President Gamal Abdel Nasser will pay a visit to Moscow after his election as President of the Republic, for reasons which, they say, have to do with the necessity of his presence in Egypt at the present juncture; but it is noted that this visit will take place soon.

The Syrian government has invited His Majesty King Paul of Greece and Queen Frederica to visit Syria. The Council of Ministers has also decided in principle to recognize Communist China, following Egypt's example.

On the night of the 16th of this month there arrived Mr. Shepilov, Moscow's new Foreign Minister, who succeeded Mr. Molotov at the Soviet Foreign Ministry, and who had the chief hand in the deal for Communist arms for the Egyptian army. As for the program of Shepilov's visit to the Arab capitals, it has been decided that he will visit Syria after Egypt, and then Lebanon on his way home to his country.

Pandit Nehru arrived in Damascus on the night of the 21st–22nd of this month, on his way to London to attend the conference of the states of the British Commonwealth. With the Syrian officials he took up the questions of the Middle East and of the countries of the Arab Maghreb.

The Revolution Council unanimously decided to nominate President Gamal Abdel Nasser for the presidency of the Republic.

For five whole days, beginning June 13, 1956, the celebrations of the Evacuation festival were held in Egypt in the presence of the representatives of the Arab states; also present at these festivities were Moscow's Foreign Minister and General Robertson, representing Britain, who had played an important part in the Anglo-Egyptian negotiations that ended with Britain's consent to evacuate the Suez base.

In the elections of June 23 the people elected, by an overwhelming majority, President Gamal Abdel Nasser as President of the Egyptian Republic, and approved the new constitution.

The American President underwent a surgical operation on his intestines. This is the second time the American President has been obliged to enter the military hospital, after his heart attack. Washington circles are now speaking of the possibility that President Eisenhower may change his mind about standing a second time in the presidential elections.

Marshal Tito's recent visit to Moscow was among the most important international subjects to engage the responsible men of the West, who voiced their fears of Yugoslavia's turning once more toward the Communist camp; but Tito cut the road before the observers and political commentators by making a special statement before his return to Belgrade, in which he reassured West and East alike that he would remain betwixt... and between...

On the evening of June 8, 1956, the Syrian government took a decision banning the shipment of wheat and its derivatives to Algeria or to France, as part of Syria's boycott of France — economic, political, and cultural — in protest against French policy in Algeria.