State Dept. Fears Saudi Arabian Events May Affect Akaba Gulf Issue

The State Department was today anxiously studying the implications for the entire Middle East of the reportedly growing Nasser influence in Saudi Arabia and the rise of Crown Prince Faisal of that country.

An element of concern exists lest Saudi Arabia force the Akaba Gulf issue in a manner that might undermine the pro-Western regimes of Jordan and Iraq by maneuvering them into a position facilitating increased Nasser leadership.

(France went on record today as opposing Saudi Arabia’s claims of sovereignty over water within 12 miles of its coast, and specifically objected to the closure of the Gulf of Akaba to Israeli or other shipping. The statement was made by the French representative at a conference of 87 nations on maritime problems in Geneva.)

But a principal immediate fear is that Saudi Arabia may demonstrate neutralist tendencies by seeking to terminate U.S. Air Force base rights at Dhahran. This airbase has been the subject of domestic controversy in the United States because American Jews are barred, by U.S. agreement, from serving there in U.S. Air Force units.

The State Department is worried that a Nasser-dominated Saudi Arabia might undermine the precarious position of King Hussein in Jordan and jeopardize Iraq. There is also considerable worry about the oil resources of both Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Meanwhile, it was learned here today that Mustafa Kamel, Ambassador of the United Arab Republic to India, is expected to be named United Arab Republic envoy to Washington to replace Ambassador Ahmed Hussein. M. Kamel was a leading architect of anti-Israel agitation at the Bandung Conference in 1955 where he served as a member of the Egyptian delegation.