Arabs threaten to take away West’s oil interests

Arab States yesterday [May 23] threatened to nationalise their oil wealth in an apparent bid to stave off intervention by the West in the West Asian crisis. The threat — which came as United Nations Secretary General U Thant, is in Cairo in a peace bid — is also aimed at Israel which receives its oil supplies through the Gulf of Aqaba, blocked by Egypt to Israeli ships or vessels carrying vital supplies to that country. Kuwait — the richest oil producer in the region — made the first move, and threatened, indirectly, to take over British and American interests. The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Sheik Sabah Al Salem Al Jabar yesterday [May 23] flew to Cairo with a message for President Nasser listing the measures taken by his Government in preparation for the “liberation of occupied Palestine.” The Kuwaiti statement followed an Egyptian note to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia which stated that tankers would no longer be allowed in the Gulf of Aqaba. But observers point out it is in fact Iran which supplies the bulk of Israel’s oil. Syria also made a clear threat against Western oil installations and attacked the “ownership of the installations by forces of imperialism and reaction.” In a broadcast, the ruling Baath Party urged Arabs “to prepare for battle” and said “we are determined to wipe out all traces of imperialism in our country.” A series of high level inter-Arab talks began in Cairo yesterday [May 23] immediately after the arrival of the United Nations Secretary-General, U Thant. Syria’s Premier Yusuf Zeayen arrived on a surprise visit to Cairo for talks with President Nasser, preceded by the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, offering his country’s fullest military support for the United Arab Republic against Israel. Observers in Cairo thought all these consultations would lead to a solid Arab front against any move by U Thant to revoke President Nasser’s stand either on the withdrawal of the United Nations Emergency Force or blockading Israeli shipping through the Gulf of Aqaba.