Rift Between Transjordan and Egypt Widens over Abdullah’s Opposition to “gaza Govt.”

Brigadier John Bagot Glubb, former commander of the Trans Jordan Arab Legion, today visited the Old City quarter of Jerusalem, examined the positions of the Legion there, and generally Looked over the present military situation.

Jewish observers ascribed his visit to purported Legion preparations to attack the Jewish positions in the Holy City as well as to the increased animosity between the Legion and the Egyptians.

As a result of that hostility the Legion’s new commander, Abdullah el Tel, has prohibited Egyptian troops from entering the Old City. Meanwhile, reports from Amman assert that the Transjordan Government has forbidden Egyptian planes from flying over the Palestine area occupied by the Legion.

The economic situation in the Arab-held Old City is deteriorating. The food situation there is acute, with near hunger prevailing in many sections, and Arab officials have broadcast an SOS to King Abdullah and to other Arab rulers to relieve the distress. Although today is a Moslem holiday, very little food is arriving, and much of the day is being spent in recriminations among the Arab chiefs who are accusing one another of failing to assist the Palestine Arabs and to do enough in “liquidating the Zionist state.”

One of the chief reasons for these quarrels is the establishment of the Palestine Arab Government of the Gaza, which is now recognized by some of the Arab states, although not by King Abdullah. In a holiday address Abdullah declared that “we cannot permit the establishment of the Gaza Government, which has been set up without consulting the Palestine Arabs.”

At the same time, the British-controlled Near East Arab radio station quoted “top British political circles” as commenting that the Palestine Arabs have nothing to win and plenty to lose by the formation of the Gaza regime.