CARRIER SAILS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28261, 26 April 1957, Page 11

CARRIER SAILS

Sudden Move By U.S. Navy (Rec. 11.40 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 25. The United States aircraft carrier James Forrestal, now in the Mediterranean, received urgent orders today to sail to an unannounced destination in the Middle East, the United Press reported from Cannes. The Forrestal, which had been Scheduled to remain on the

Riviera until next Tuesday, received orders to sail at 11 a.m. today with several other ships. The 60,000-ton super-carrier, the United States Navy's biggest, had come to the French coast from Middle East waters, where it made goodwill visits to Turkey and Lebanon. An American Associated Press report from Cannes said speculation immediately arose, after the Forrestal received its orders, that the move was connected with the Jordan crisis.

President Eisenhower and Mr Dulles had said yesterday that they regarded Jordan’s independence and integrity as vital Observers considered this declaration a warning against any Communist aggression towards the threatend country, qfessibly foreshadowing United States help under the Eisenhower Doctrine if King Hussein asked for it.

Mr Hashem immediately went before the nation with a radio message declaring his determination to “establish law and order in our homeland and give peace of mind to the people.” He said the revolt had assumed such proportions that “the Government finds no alternative but to proclaim martial law and to adopt stringent measures to preserve the safety of the homeland.” King Hussein already had clamped a curfew on the main cities of his kingdom after blaming the disturbances in Jordan on international communism. King Hussein spoke over the Jerusalem, Jordan, Radio shortly after midnight, warning his people that communism was attempting to turn the “misguided” policies of the ousted Prime Minister (Mr Suleiman Nabulsi) to its own advantages. He said that anyone who supported the Communists in their bid was a “traitor to his nation.” A few hours before the address King Hussein told American reporters he might move to end the crisis within 24 hours. His actions came after a day of rioting in the streets of Amman, Jerusalem and other Jordan cities in which police clashed repeatedly with mobs of demonstrators shouting for the return of Mr Nabulsi. The mobs turned anti-American and shouted “Down with the Eisenhower Doctrine” before the disturbances died out. The United Press also said that unconfirmed reports in Beirut and Jerusalem said that Iraq was preparing to move into the conflict. King Feisal of Iraq is King Hussein’s cousin. Loyal Bedouins When dawn broke over Jordan today Bedouin Legionnaires, whose sheiks had sworn loyalty to King Hussein last week-end. were in control of the streets. The legionnaires again had painted their faces black as a warning that they would shoot to kill. Mr Hashem’s first act after declaring military law was to suspend the political parties whose open opposition to moderate rule forced the crisis. Dr. Khalidi, a 62-year-old physician, tried for a week to maintain control, but he finally surrendered and handed in his resignation to the King half an hour after midnight. The Khalidi resignation was not officially announced until this morning when the Government Radio stations at Amman and Ramallah broadcast the King’s decree appointing Mr Hashem. The brief Cabinet announcement was followed by Mr Hashem’s personal appeal for “law and order” in which martial law was announced. Westerners first learned of Dr. Khalidi’s decision and the King’s reaction, from the outgoing For-

eign Minister (Mr Nabulsi). Mr Nabulsi, the chief figurehead of the Left-wing forces, did not wait for the official announcement before making it known that Dr. Khalidi was out. Dr. Khalidi’s letter of resignation said he had no choice but to resign since “certain groups among the people” had withdrawn support. Mr Hashem was born in 1888. He was educated in Turkey and worked as a lawyer in Beirut, Damascus and Jaffa before World War I. He was Attorney-General and President of the Court of Appeal in Damascus during 1918-21, and has been Premier of Jordan twice before—from 1933 to 1938 and in 1945. He also served as Minister of Justice before World War 11. Swedish Royalty Leaves Britain.— King Gustav and Queen Louise of Sweden left London today by air for Stockholm after a 13-day private visit to Britain. —London, April 24.