For the fist time since taking power 12 years ago, President Nasser of Egypt is completely on the defensive at an Arab conference, it was reported here today from the Arab summit conference in Casablanca.
Sources there reported that he has never before had to face such skeptical scrutiny from fellow Moslem rulers and that, while debate has been moderate at the request of Morocco’s King Hassan II, the discussion in the two days of the conclave constitute a challenge to Nasser policies, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon were reported particularly to be feeling that Nasser has sold them a very large white elephant in the project to divert the tributaries of the Jordan River and thus deny its waters to Israel for irrigation purposes.
Nasser protested to the Moroccan government, it was also reported, when he saw the West German flag displayed in front of his Casablanca hotel. He said this was a “provocation.” because Egypt broke off diplomatle relations with West Germany after Bonn decided on diplomatic relations with Israel. The West German flag was there upon removed, but, as a sign of Western solidarity, the British Consulate hauled down the British flag, and the French and Italians joined in the gesture. The United States Embassy said it would not hoist its flag under the circumstances.
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