Nasser’s Failure on Aswan Dam Hits Plan for Merging Syria with Egypt

A plan for merging Syria with Egypt into a federal union at the expense of Israel’s existence, was revealed here today as having been prepared prior to the withdrawal of the American and British offer to assist the regime of President Gamal Abdel Nasser in building the Aswan Dam. This blow to Col. Nasser coupled with the announcement in Moscow that the Soviet Union does not intend to finance the Aswan Dam project will, it is believed, reduce the merger plan to naught since Col. Nasser’s prestige has fallen considerably in Syria.

The plan originated with some elements in Syria and, according to reports here, the Syrian parliament had appointed a committee to discuss this project with Egypt. Under this plan, Egypt and Syria were to form a union under which the two countries would relinquish partial sovereignty, and a united foreign policy and diplomatic service would be established. The plan also provided for the formation of a united army, a unified economy, and a joint central bank.

Powerful elements within the Syrian army and among Syrian politicians are reported to have opposed such a merger. Many Syrian army officers fear that the merger would subordinate them to the control of Egyptians. Some of the Syrian politicians favor a merger with Iraq rather than with Egypt, on the grounds that the Syrian economy would be enormously strengthened by oil-rich Iraqi development money.

ISRAEL, UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN WATCHING DEVELOPMENTS

Israel, the United States and Britain, the report here reveals, were aware of the Syrian-Egyptian merger proposal and were watching developments with utmost interest. It was natural for Israel to look with concern upon the projected merger of the two Arab states which have no common frontier and which could secure such a frontier only by invading Israel. A merger between Syria and Iraq does not constitute such a danger for Israel since Syria and Iraq do have a common frontier.

For the United States and Britain, also, the issue is important, since a determined effort by Syria and Egypt to merge themselves in a federal union would almost certainly attract enough opposition to upset the present touchy Middle East situation, which the Western Powers are serving to improve.

According to information received here, President Nasser is awaiting reaction to the proposal from the other Arab countries. While all the Arab countries are united in their opposition to Israel, they look with suspicion upon each other when it comes to territorial, political and economic projects. Iraq, which ins long sought a merger with Syria, is certain to oppose any Syrian-Egyptian union. So are the Christians of Lebanon.

King Saud of Saudi Arabia, though united with Egypt in opposition to Iraq, has a special reason to be concerned over an undue strengthening of Egypt, as would occur through the proposed Syrian union. That reason is a suspicion that Saudi Arabian army officers, influenced by their Egyptian colleagues, might try to overthrow their authoritarian King just as Col. Nasser and his “free officers” deposed King Farouk of Egypt.

For these reasons there are some Arab countries which do not see Col. Nasser’s failure to obtain American, British or Soviet financing for the Aswan dam as such a tragedy. On the contrary, some circles in these countries feel that if the Great Powers do not cut President Nasser down to size, he may eventually dominate all the Arab countries.