U.S. Policy in Middle East May Undergo Changes; Diplomats Transferred

Diplomatic and political circles here displayed extraordinary interest today in a report that President Eisenhower had decided to transfer Ambassador Henry. A. Byroade from his post in Cairo to a new post as Ambassador to the Union of South Africa. The report also stated that George V. Allen, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, will be named U.S. Ambassador to Greece.

Speculation was rife as to the implications of this change, which is bound to affect American policy on the Arab-Israel situation. Notice of this change had been given to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, since the Senate must confirm the new appointments.

Special interest was displayed in the Capital today in the as yet unnamed successor to Mr. Allen. Interested Washington circles waited to learn the identify of the man who will replace Mr. Allen as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, in the hope that this would furnish a key to future State Department policy toward the Arab-Israel question.

The removal of Henry A. Byroade as Ambassador to Egypt follows a growing conviction in government circles that Mr. Byroade failed in his Cairo post. He was considered by some an “apologist” for Egyptian Premier Nasser who did more to sell Nasser’s ideas to Washington than vice versa. The growing relationship between Egypt and the Soviet Union was seen as the factor that finally convinced policy makers that Mr. Byroade had to go.

Ambassador Eyroade’s transfer to South Africa is seen as a demotion because Egypt today is considered a number one trouble spot. Raymond A. Hare, veteran diplomat who replaces Mr. Byroade in Cairo, has a long record of service in Arab countries. He is known in diplomatic circles to be opposed to the Baghdad Pact because of the embarrassment the pact has caused Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other Arabs in the Nasser camp.

Ambassador Hare began work in the Near East as executive secretary of the American Chamber of Commerce for the Levant in 1926. He later held diplomatic assignments in Constantinople, Beirut, Tehran, Cairo, and Jidda. He was a U.S. Consul in Cairo during World War II. In 1947, when the Palestine issue was at the forefront, Mr. Hare became chief of the State Departments Division of Middle East Affairs. In 1948 he was made deputy director of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs. He later became Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. Since the creation of Israel, he served at various intervals as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Lebanon. In 1954 he was made director general of the Foreign Service.