Middle East Alliances
Britain is the military ally of Egypt, Iraq and Transjordan. It is true that public opinion in the first two countries would like to see the alliances brought to an end, but in the absence of an agreed revision they will remain legally in force until 1956 and 1955 respec- tively. It was because of these treaties that the Middle East became a British base during the' war and, the boot being now on the other foot, it is because of these treaties that Britain might find herself involved with an expansionist Israel. That this danger is recognised as a real one is shown by the fact that it has been necessary for the British Consul in Haifa to assure the Israeli Foreign Minister that there is no question of Britain declaring war on Israel. Presumably this assurance can be given in the belief that the Jewish armies will keep within the boundaries of Palestine, whatever the outcome of the present fighting round Gaza, but also owing to the clauses in both the Egyptian. and Iraqi treaties which admit the overriding obligations of all parties to the Charter of the League of Nations—obligations which may be taken to have passed on to the United Nations. But the situation as far as Transjordan is concerned is rather different. This alliance was concluded after the United Nations had come into existence and has not since been criticised by either contracting government. The danger of an Israeli attack on Transjordan is a real one ; small bands have already been reported crossing the frontier, and a large section of the Zionists proclaim the conquest of Transjordan as one of their immediate objectives. This act of aggression would almost certainly have the tacit support of the so-called " moderate " Zionists. It would be wrong, therefore, to assume that the explosive possibilities in the present Middle Eastern situation, which were the subject of discussion between the British Ambassador in Washington and the State Department over the week-end, have been removed by the withdrawal of Jewish troops from across the Egyptian frontier. They will remain a menace to peace as long as the Revisionist Party exists and as long as the young Jewish State continues its policy of aggressive expansion.
Previous page
