Hussein Sees No Danger In Decision

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 13

Hussein Sees No Danger In Decision

(AZ. Press Association—Copyright)

AMMAN (Jordan), May 11.

King Hussein of Jordan said last night: *‘l have never been afraid of anything—l have my belief in God, in myself and in my people.”

At his last meeting with foreign correspondents before n'.s wedding, the King had been asked whether he saw any possible danger in narrying a British girl. 20-y.ar-old Miss Toni Gardiner, the daughter of one of his military advisers. He said: “Some people have attempted to suggest that 1 have forsaken my duties for personal reasons. It is the contrary as far as I am concerned.” King Hussein said that before his engagement to Miss Gardiner, who is now known as • Mouna al Hussein,” he had felt lonely, and had faced manv difficulties. He washed h’s wedding, expected on or about May 25, Jordan’s Independence Day. to be very simple. Earlier, King Hussein satd he hoped to meet President Nasser of the United Arab Republic very soon, al’hough no date had vet been fixed. President Nasser’s replv to his latest message, the Kine said, “gives me great hope that we are beginning a new

phase in the betterment of the Arab world.” It was announced that in his message to President Nasser, King Hussein had said: “Permit me to open mv heart to you. . . . Disunity and differences between Arab states . . will be removed if all bekeve that Arab interests come above all.” Arab collaboration. the King’s message said, was very necessary for the security of the Arab world in the face of Zionism and communism.

President Nasser, in his reply. welcomed the prospect of meeting King Hussesn and wished every success to his aims.

The British United Press said President Nasser's reply, which was dated May 7. acknowledged, however,'that each Arab State was justified in following the policy which suited its own interests.

He said it was impossible to unifv the policies of al! Arab States becanse of the different stages of development and the unequal potentialities of the Arab countries.