The Premier of Jordan, Waifi Tell, has threatened that Jordan would use force against Syria if the Damascus regime tried to isolate Jordan by closing the Syrian-Jordan frontier, it was reported here today from Amman.
The Premier, in what was considered the strongest statement to date on the worsening state of Jordanian relations with Syria and Egypt, told the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph: “If Syria closes the frontier, we will if necessary open it up with our armor.” He also said such military operation would be a “cup of coffee” for Jordanian tanks.
He hinted that Jordan also was prepared to react strongly if Egypt tried to get back into Syria, with which the Nasser regime was formerly joined in the United Arab Republic. Jordanian sources indicated the Government was concerned over intelligence reports that, Syria was falling increasingly into Soviet clutches and those of the Syrian Communist Party.” The Premier said that there were growing signs that Soviet experts were attached to Syrian armed forces.
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