Evidence of hostility on every hand greeted Assistant Secretary of State William Rountree when he arrived in Bagdad today on the second leg of his Middle East tour. The American diplomat had conferred yesterday in Cairo with Nasser, admittedly the most important target of Washington’s attempt to win over Arab leadership.
Anti-American placards were pasted up or painted on buildings all over the Iraqi capital, the British press reported today. Even the United States Embassy was so plastered, despite protests to the authorities. Editors of Bagdad newspapers were encouraged to devote their lead stories to the “spontaneous protests” against Mr. Rountree’s visit.
Popular slogans in English and Arabic in Bagdad today were: “Rountree Go Home,” and “Rountree Do Not Stop On Our Beloved Land With Your Dirty Feet.” According to a report in the London press, even tanks and armored cars assigned to guard the U.S. Embassy in Bagdad have such slogans on them.
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