British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 49 Jordanian Egyptian Relations in the Jordanian Press, 1952-1970 Dr Hani.A.M. Akho-Rashida Associated Professor Al Albyt University Dr_haniabid@yahoo.com Abstract The present study aimed to identify the way Jordanian newspapers dealt with the subject of Jordanian-Egyptian relations during 1952-1970The study relied on the newspapers issued during that period as to monitor the newspapers' attitudes on the developments of the relations between the two countries, and the level of media influence on these relations, the study used the historical approach in studying and analyzing the content of the Jordanian newspapers during the period between 1952 and 1970. The research monitored the coverage of the Jordanian newspapers for the most important events that affected the Egyptian-Jordanian relation starting from Jordan's attempt to enter Baghdad alliance then the tripartite aggression toward Egypt an the Jordanian stance from it in addition to studying the unitary attempts in 1958 ( the Arabian alliance between Jordan and Iraq and the Syrian-Egyptian unity), and its impact on the Jordanian- Egyptian relations, and it ends with studying the first Arab summit 1967, the Arabian- Israelite war of 1967, and its impact on growing the relationship between the two countries< and the improvement that affected this relationship after 1964 war, up until 1970, when the armed clash between the Jordanian army and the Palestinian organizations led to the creation of listlessness in the Jordanian -Egyptian relations, as it became obvious through the study that the Jordanian press had a great interest in covering the political events and the Jordanian- Egyptian relations and following up with its development constantly, it was also covering the viewpoints of both the Jordanian and Egyptian governments, in addition to the reaction of the Jordanian street towards the nature of relations between Jordan and Egypt. Keywords: Jordanian-Egyptian relations, Jordanian newspapers, Baghdad alliance, Syrian-Egyptian unity. Introduction: The fifties period was characterized by the publican of many newspapers and magazines and the emergence of Party journalism. some consider that that period is one of the most open periods towards the political atmosphere and Journalism freedom, in the sixties many new newspapers and magazines emerged and solved the national and regional issues,some specialty magazines emerged that touched upon many topics and problems while participating in serving the youth and children in addition to enriching the public culture and politics. The temporary journalism and publication law was issued n 1967 after the departure of a number of West Bank newspaper to the East Bank, such as Palestine, Defense, Jihad and Al-Manar newspapers 1. After the war of June 1967< the Jordanian arena witnessed a state of instability, some of the most prominent events are the Battle of Karama in 21 of March 1968, the escalation of the Palestinian terrorist action coming from Jordanian territories, the escalation between the terrorists, the army and the citizens. the Constitution and the Defense were publishing the organizations' statements on its pages under armed * This research was carried out while on sabbatical leave from Al al-bayt University for the academic year 2015/2016). 1 Nassar, turkey(2002), The Jordanian media ( Historical and Descriptive study), Irbid, Noor al_deen house for printing, publishing and distribution,p.41.
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 50 threat, the crisis reached its peak in mid-june 1970, when both newspapers published a communiqué to the Fatah Central Committee, and because of the lies in the communiqué, the government issued an order to stop the two newspapers, Fatah's response was to issue its own newspaper on June 15, 1970 without a government authorization. Where the Victors organization issued the Voice of the Masses newspaper, and the Thunderbolt organization issued Vanguard newspaper, Democratic front the spark newspaper (Mosa, Issam, (1998),the entrance to mass communication, Irbid, Jordan, Al-Kattani library for publishing and distribution, p.41), and with the increase of foreign political media pressure on Jordan, the government decided to merge the four daily newspapers into two companies, each of which publishes one newspaper, and as a result of the union between the Palestine and Al-Manar newspapers with the Jordanian Press and Publishing company issuing Al-Dustor newspaper, and the union of Defense and Al-Jihad newspapers with Jerusalem Press and Publishing company issuing Jerusalem newspaper. The Jordanian-Egyptian relationship during (1952-1970) went through several developments which left their marks on the nature of the relationship between both countries. The year 1952 is considered one of the important hinges in the Egyptian-Jordanian relations considering the transformation that hit the Sisi regime in Egypt as a result of July 23 1952 revolution, which transferred Egypt from a monarchy to a republican system where later on President Jamal abd Al-Nasser took the reins. On the 11th of August of the same year Prince Hussein bin Talal who was not yet 18 ascended to the ruling in Jordan, where he formed a Guardianship Council for the throne until the 3rd of March 1953, when King Hussein assumed his constitutional powers 2. Stopping on the newspapers' treatment for the Jordanian-Egyptian relations in (1952-1970), as this study came to examine the most important stages of development in the relations between the two countries during that period, the limitations and the variables that affected the relationship between both countries and how the Jordanian Press covered the relations between the two countries, and the level of influence the media had on those relations. Study Objectives: The current study is mainly aiming to present the picture of Jordanian events and attitudes toward the relationship with Egypt during the fifties and sixties from the previous century, starting from the isolation of King Talal and the call for King Hussein, as well as the revolution of Free Officers in Egypt in 1952, the abolition of Monarchy in 1953, and the establishment of the republican system, this period also acquires a special importance because the Arab region has seen the so-called era of the masses and asking for the Arab unity, also the increasing intensity of the cold war between the two poles at the time ( The United States and the Soviet Union previously), and this period saw the uprising of international and regional unions in addition to revolutions in many Arab region, where Egypt was present in many of the events, add to this the Palestinian case, 1967 war and its reflections on these relationships, upon this we can define the objectives of this study into the two following objectives: First: Providing an integrated picture of the events as drawn up by the Jordanian newspapers in their various stances towards Egypt and with what concerns the relations between the two countries. Second: Getting to know how the Jordanian newspapers dealt with the issue of the Jordanian-Egyptian relations during the period between 1952-1970. The study will refer to the newspapers issued during that period, by highlighting the contents of news and analysis in order to monitor the positions of the newspapers regarding the developments in relations between the two countries during that period. Study Importance: The importance of studying this subject becomes clear through the following: 1.Monitiring the course of the relations between the two countries and its journey through the Jordanian newspapers issued during the years of the study in the framework of what is called political history and political media. 2 Al- Rafo', Faisal, (1999), the Jordanian-Egyptian relations (1952-1970), Amman: Majdalawi house for publication p.29.
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 51 2. Displaying the importance of the role of the press in that period and the level of its influence on the Jordanian-Egyptian relations. 3.Providing a methodical analytical study to addressing the Jordanian press redemption for the Jordanian-Egyptian relations during the period between 1952-1970, which highlights the nature of relations between the two countries during that period and the events affecting it, and how the press redeemed those relations. Study Questions: In such studies Hypothesizes could not be made, because the assumptions id about what will be and not what it was, but questions can be placed within the framework of the following questions: 1. How did the daily Jordanian press remedy the Jordanian -Egyptian relations subject during the period between 1952-1970? 2. What was the Jordanian press stances in that period of events which impacted the Jordanian-Egyptian relations? Study outlines: Time outline: The study deals with the relations between the two countries in the period after the Egyptian revolution from 1952 to 1970. Spatial Outlines: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, The Republic of Egypt. Study Methodology: The study used the historical method in studying and analyzing the content of the Jordanian newspapers during the period between 1952 and 1970, where the fifties are considered a new beginning for the Jordanian press and especially after the promulgation of the Constitution in 1952, and declaration of independence, in addition to the rise of the communist, nationalist, narcissistic and the Muslim brotherhood intellectual currents, and the establishment of the Journalists Syndicate in 17/3/1995,where the number of newspapers and magazines rose characterized by its political,intellectual, cultural and social contents, it also reflected different tendencies and intellectual trends especially patrician and ideological, as it used to reflect the local, Arabian and international situations. In the political aspect, important events took over the newspapers' content like the unity of both banks and the assassination of King Abd Allah bin Al-Hussein in Jerusalem, the coronation of King Talal bin Abd Allah and then his illness, the appointment of the Trusteeship Council to the throne, King Hussein bin Talal took over the throne and expelled Bagot Glubb, Baghdad alliance, The Jordanian-British treaty and the unity between Jordan and Iraq, the coup against the Hashemite in Iraq, the emergence of political parties and their newspapers that worked to criticize the governments, in addition to the adoption of foreign ideas,the dissemination of its ideas and objectives, there is also the ban of the parties, stopping their newspapers, and their failed attempts to coup. For study purposes we used Al-Jazeera, the Defense, Palestine, and AL- Manar newspapers all of which were in the 1950s, on the other hand the 1960s were based on Al-Manar newspaper which after the 67 war became known as Al-Dustour newspaper. Previous Studies: There is a scarcity of Egyptian-Jordanian relations in the scientific studies that dealt with these Egyptian-Jordanian relations in the fifties and sixties if the twentieth century, some of the important studies in this area: -Badr Al-Mady (1995) Study, tittles " The Jordanian-Egyptian relations (1953-1970), this study focuses on the concepts of foreign policy and the internal and external environments which affects the decision maker, and the points of convergence and differences between the two countries. -Faisal Algoyen (2012) Study titled " Political History of the Jordanian-Egyptian relations (1945-1970)", the study examines the political history for the Jordanian-Egyptian relations between 1945-1970, which is replete with regional and international events by shedding light on the most prominent political developments and events in the region.
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 52 -Abd Al-Salam Abd Al-Rahman Zyadah, " The Jordanian-Egyptian political relations (1946-1958)" unpublished MA thesis, University of Jordan 1994, which is a purely historical study that took a narrative style for telling the events, and even with that we could repose to it as a rooting basis for our study, this study was divided into an introduction, four chapters, and a conclusion, displaying the influence of the Suez Canal Crisis, tripartite aggression on Egypt, the Egyptian-Syrian unity, and the Arabian Union between Jordan and Iraq. What distinguishes the current study from previous ones: the current study stands out form the other few studies which exhibited the Jordanian-Egyptian relations subject, is that it depended on the Jordanian newspaper coverage in illustrating the Jordanian-Egyptian relations. 1. The first stage of the Jordanian-Egyptian relations 1952-1961 A. The internal developments in both Jordan and Egypt 1952-1954 The assassination of King Abdullah bin AL-Hussein on 20 of July 1951, and the intensification of the conflict between his two sons Talal and Nayef on the crown to include Arabian and Foreign parties, which as Saudi Arabia saw that the Jordanian future should be decided by a plebiscite under the supervision on the Arab League, on the grounds that this procedure would rule out the British influence on Jordan in a way, and would prepare for Egypt which was supported by Saudi Arabia a great influence in determining the fate of Jordan, given Egypt's control over the Arab league. King Talal was being treated in one of the Swiss sanatoriums when his father King Abdullah was assassinated, and so his brother Nayef was appointed guardian on the throne, and tried to seize the crown, but Abd Al-Huda and Globb Bash prevented that and Talal returned in 6 of September 1951 after the decisions of the Council of Ministers which has been ratified by the Parliament by calling him the king of the country 3. King Talal was known for his aggression towards the English, he was also able to settle the disputes with Saudi Arabia, then leaned towards rapprochement with Egypt and Syria, he also abolished the Jordanian constitution of 1947 and issued the third Jordanian Constitute which is still in effect in 1952, and upon this Constitute the Jordanian government became responsible for its work in front of the Parliament, giving the Parliament the opportunity of withholding confidence from it, in addition to that the laws became only issued by the approval of the Council of Ministers, and the authentication of the King on these proposals. King Talal continued to rule for one year, disbanded after it by Prime Minister Tawfiq Abu Al-Huda, by calling the Parliament to convene and remove King Talal from the throne, to justify this action an official statement was issued stating that king Talal was unable to continue holding the throne for health reasons,then prince Hussein bin Talal was declared king of the country in August 1952, and received his constitutional powers after reaching the legal age in May 1953. The Egyptian revolution in 1952 was the turning point in international and regional relations, as the Egyptian revolution took place at a time when the world was divided between the East and the West, in addition to the rivalry between the two poles at the time ( The United States and The Soviet Union), both of which sought to attract the largest number of countries to their sides, establishing alliances and anti-alliances which led to the soc-called ( Cold War) and the overthrowing of the regimes that are not within this system or that or even incompatible with their policies, thus the Egyptian Revolution ended the Monarchy and formed a Board of Trustees in preparation for the declaration of the Republic. As for the Jordanian government's stance on the revolution of the Free Officers in Egypt was positive and was expressed upon by the then Prime Minister Saeed Al-Mufti expressed upon it by saying that the Egyptian revolution had a great resonance in the hearts of the Jordanians and especially those reforms it did to close the deep gap between the layers of Egyptian people 4, the Jordanian newspapers published in that period showed clear interest in the events of the Egyptian revolution especially Al- Jazeera and Jordan newspapers, it became clear in Jordan newspaper starting from publishing the warning that the Egyptian army directed to King Farouq which led him to accept to waive the throne and leave 3 Al-Shlbi, Suhaylah, (2003), Tawfeq Abu Al-Huda houses in Jordanian politics. Amman, Jordan. P.52-56 4 Al-Jazeera Newspaper issued on 27 of July 1952
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 53 Egypt and forming a military government, what is profound to note is that the main headlines of that newspaper was most interested in the Egyptian situation after the July revolution, including the orders of Major General Mohammed Najib the leader of the revolution to cancel the titles given by the former King Farouq for those who deserved it and those who didn't, in addition to forming a committee to investigate the deals of corrupt weapons bought by Farouq which was one of the reasons for the defeat of the Egyptian army in the war of 1948. Such steps had given a type of moral support to the Arab peoples who suffered from their defeat against the Jews and the occupation of Palestine, there was also the Arab countries subjected to occupation such as Algeria and Tunisia, which were under the French occupation. In addition to that, Al-Jazeera Newspaper addressed in its main title only the meeting of Major General Najib with the members of Jordanian delegation participating in the meetings of the Arab League Council headed by Prime Minister Saeed Al-Mofti, and the participation of Minister Khulousi Al-Khairi and the Jordan's ambassador un Cairo Awni Abd Al-Hadi, and the level of welcome and generosity shown by Major General Najib to the Jordanian delegation, and most importantly is the Arab League's decision to not recognize the all-palestinian government headed by Al-Haj Ameen Al-Husseini, which would have not been possible had there not been an Egyptian desire to do so, and that the unity of both shores which Jordan considered as a deposit to ensure that it is the only way to preserve the rest of Palestine. The same newspaper had an exclusive meeting with the new Egyptian ambassador in Jordan, who stressed the keenness of the new Egyptian government on establishing the best connections in the Arab orient, pointing out on establishing special relations between Cairo Amman, and a visit which the Director of the Egyptian Bank to Jordan to study creating economic development projects 5. The newspaper also pointed out to the Egyptian government's decision to lift the diplomatic representation between the two countries from the commission rank to an embassy, and if this shows anything it shows what the new Egyptian leadership found of Jordanian satisfaction to the removal of King Farouq from the throne, and the Jordanian officers feeling that they were the tools of colonization to achieve its projects during after the war of Palestine, the Egypt of Farouq was one of the tools stopping the Jordanian national role in Palestine. In a commentary written by Taysir Dhibyan, its editor titled " Echo of the Egyptian Army Movement" she commented that the influence of this movement in the Arab East's policy led to the awakening of the Arab people and its aspiration to the status of the world's primacy 6. On its weekly page edited by members of the Jordanian Students' Association, that newspaper opened by a poem dedicated to Mohammed Najib titled " Egypt the Lion's Lair", and this is an affirmation of the popular situation that was buried in the Jordanians conscience towards the revolution, the constitutional reformations done by King Talal had the greatest influence on giving the Jordanian press more freedoms in forming the public opinion, as stipulated in Article XV of the Constitution of freedom of expression in various medias within the limits of the law. 7 As for the Jordanian-Egyptian relations, King Hussein's impression of the revolution and its men was positive, he described them as pure and loyal men, and as Abu Nawar points out in his book 'when the Arab disappeared' King Hussein sent him at the end of 1954 when he was a young military attaché in France to Cairo to discuss two issues with President Abd Al-Nasser: the first is about the situation in Syria and the return of Shukri Al-Qutali and Egypt's position on this subject, as for the second issue which is considered more serious is inquiring about the readiness of Cairo to support Jordan if it proceeded to Arabization of the Jordanian army and getting rid of the English leadership, Abd Al-Nasser also told Abu Nawar that the return of Al-Qutali to Damascus is a guarantee for the stability in Syria after more than four military coups, and about the Arabization of the Jordanian army Abd Al-Nasser asked to delay in taking such a step at the moment, for the sake of the safety of Jordan, he also doesn't support the 5 Al-Jazeera 14 April 1952 6 Al-Jazeera 14 of April 1952. 7 Jordanian Constitution1952.
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 54 clash with Britain before the evacuation of its forces from the Suez Canal, as the forces should be taken into the Jordanian and Egyptian account 8. When Cairo annulled the Egyptian-British treaty signed in 1936, efforts were combined and intensified to force London to conclude a new treaty to ensure the evacuation of its troops from Egypt, and eventually the two sides reached an evacuation agreement in 27 July 1954, Jordan welcomed this agreement and King Hussein sent a telegraph to congratulate the Egyptian leadership, Jordan shared Egypt its cheer in the British evacuation from its territory with a delegation headed by Bahjat Talhouni, the President of the Royal Court to extend congratulations to the Egyptian leadership 9. B. The Czech weapons deal to Egypt and the Jordanian stance towards it: After the failure of the negotiations between Egypt and the Western countries represented by the United States, France, Britain since 1953/1954 to obtain weapons from those countries, and in front of the Western extortion to Egypt and including the participation of France on Cairo by stopping its assistance to the Algerian revolutionaries before responding to the Egyptian with weapons so Egypt had no choice but to buy its weapons from The Eastern bloc 10. When the Czech and Soviets began to flow into Egypt, Abd Al-Nasser's popularity in the Arab world considerably, and these deals were seen as a basis for repelling any aggression on the Arab territories, which were tools to liberate Palestine from the Jews 11. As for the Jordanian stance, it was expressed by the Prime Minister to Palestine and the Defense newspapers, stating that " Egypt's purchase of arms from the Iron Curtain countries is a natural step dictated by the safety of Egypt and the safety of the Arab world towards the Israeli danger and its repeated aggressions on the borders, their disrespect for the decisions of international bodies, especially after Western countries refused to provide them with weapons" 12,he added saying: " I don't see a positive need for all this uproar about this ongoing process, after the officials in Egypt announced that this action was called for by the Egyptian safety requirements,and the right of self-defense, and that Egypt's work does not conflict with any international commitment" 13. As for Awni Abd Al-Hadi the Jordanian ambassador to Egypt, said that the Egyptian governments' decision is the greatest action undertaken by an Arab government in decades, and that all Arabs support the Egyptian president's stance towards the Western countries' insistence on preventing weapons from the Egyptian army and other Arab armies 14. As for the position of the Jordanian press, it has paid an unprecedented attention to this event. The newspaper of The Defense expressed it in its main editorial entitled " The Arab The West and the Western Countries, Disturbed", the theme of the editorial id the efforts of the Arabs in knocking the West's doors to provide it with weapons, but was only met with disappointment, so it is the right of Egypt and any Arab country to buy weapons from any source available without blackmail. 15 As an indication of the depth of relations as was reflected in The Defense newspaper in its main title of President Nasser's warning to Israel that an inclusive war would erupt if it tried to take over Gaza Strip, and in the editorial of the same newspaper under the title ( Bravo Jamal!) praising the Egyptian position saying that it took the initiative from the Jews 16. On its front page, the newspaper reported that the King Sa'ud and President Abd Al-Nasser would visit Jordan soon, according to an official source at the Royal Court. 17 8 Al-Ghuwain, previous source. 9 Palestine newspaper, The Defense newspaper, July 1954. 10 Al-Ghuwain, previous source, p.124 11 Sameer, Motawe', 1988, Jordan in war 1976, Public opinion neighbor, Kuwait, First edition. 12 Palestine newspaper 4/10/1955. 13 The Defense newspaper, issue 597, 4/10/1955. 14 Jordan newspaper 4/10/1955. 15 The Defense issue 5912, 28/9/1955 16 The Defense Issue 5869 3/6/1955 17 The defense issue 5911 25/july/1955
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 55 Here we note that there is a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Egypt despite the ideological differences between King Sa 'ud and President Jamal Abd Al-Nasser, this closeness is due to reasons including: 1.Saudi Arabia has the richest oil resources in the world. 2.Its conflict with Britain over the ownership of the Buraimi Oasis on the border of the United Arab Emirates, which is subjected to British protection. 3.The traditional hostility between the Saudi and Hashemite families. Here we can say that the Jordanian press reflected the government and public views, and if it tended towards the point of view that supports Egypt's irregularity and entrenchment in the alliances. In the same year the newspaper highlighted the news that King Hussein sent a telegraph of congratulations to President Abd Al-Nasser on the anniversary of July revolution 18 In another development The Defense newspaper news about Al-Mushayr Abd Al-Hakeem Amer visit to Amman on Friday where Amer briefed king Hussein on the details of the Egyptian -Syrian agreement and the results of his visit to Damascus 19. A month after this visit Amer mad a visit to Jordan, and the newspaper highlighted Al-Mushyr Amer's decision to extend his visit to Jordan for three days, to complete studying the conditions of the lines of contact with the officials. The newspaper also highlighted the news of King Hussein surprising Al-Mushyr Amer and his companions by visiting them in one of the Jordanian army camps in the West Bank, and in its opening that is entitled "Amer and Brothers of Arms', it praised this intimate visit for Amer and the level of welcome that he met and spending days with his Jordanian soldiers brothers in the front rows, as this indicates that Cairo and Amman are in on trench 20 C. Jordanian-Egyptian relations from 1955 to 1962 - Jordan and Egypt's positions from the Baghdad alliance During the cold war between the eastern and western camps and after Washington became the leader of that camp instead of Britain, it became obsessed with encircling the Soviet Union in Europe and Southeast Asian Central Alliance, it wanted to complete this ring by reviving the idea of the Baghdad alliance which emerged following the visit of the Us Secretary of State (John Foster Dulles) to Baghdad in 1953, and even though the idea was American, Britain was of the most enthusiastic for this idea, and was keen to implement it, and the purpose of that alliance or the so-called northern belt was to encircle the Soviet Union. It was announced in Baghdad on December 13, 1955, that Iraq and Turkey intended to sign a treaty of joint defense, Britain, Iran Pakistan and Afghanistan joined the alliance later on, it is noted here that three of the alliance members had shared borders with the Soviet Union, in addition to a demographical and religious extension, after the completion of the implementation of the Northern belt plan, or the so-called Baghdad Alliance, the pressures on Jordan began to join the alliance, exploiting Jordan's economic conditions, thus the inclusion of Jordan in the alliance will have some benefits for the alliance makers, like making Syria who is allied with Egypt isolated between Turkey, Iraq, Israel and Jordan In Jordan, there was two schools of thinking about joining the alliance or not. The first school we sees that in Jordan's joining it will have protection which will mean that Israel will not be able to occupy the West Bank, as it's a part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and in the terms of the alliance that any attack on any country of these countries is an attack on them all, the Jordanian position, or this school was built on what will achieve Jordan's goals in addition to achieving economic and political interests. This study claims that its position is related to the Jordanian supreme interest in entering the alliance. One of the most people who wanted to enter the alliance is Hazza' Al-Majali, as for the second school which refuses the entering of the alliance believes that Jordan should not be a party in the Cold War, which puts it in the middle of the conflict and competition between both eastern and western camp. 18 The Defense, issue 5912, 16/July/1955 19 The Defense, issue 5970, 4/October/1955 20 The Defense, issue 6010, 1/December/1955
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 56 There have been several attempts to introduce Jordan to the government of the Baghdad alliance through more than one government, it could be said that Egypt was able to achieve victory in the battle of alliances generally, and Baghdad alliance especially, and while Iraq and the other countries of the alliance were not able to include any other Arab countries into the alliance and especially Jordan, while Egypt with its invitation was able to reduce the alliance and restrict its founding countries. As for the press coverage of that period by the Jordanian press, the Palestine newspaper reported that Tawfiq Abu Al-Huda came from Cairo in February 9 1955, carrying a message from the Egyptian president to King Hussein, describing it as important. The first page of The Defense newspaper reported the visit of King Hussein to Cairo, which lasted for a week from 21 February to 27 February 1955, the hospitality the Jordanian king was met with and the conversations he had with President Abd Al-Nasser 21. In another development, The Defense newspaper reported that Egypt will support the Jordanian National Guard with 250 thousand Jd, and another million dinars for the Jordanian potash project, this announcement was accompanied by Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri Al-Sai'ed's signing of the charter with Turkey 22. And in what reflects the growing relations between the two countries, and Egypt's desire to keep Jordan away from the pressures of joining the Baghdad alliance, the Defense newspaper referred to an Egyptian project to help Jordan after President Abd Al-Nasser received the Egyptian ambassador in Amman, Mohammad Ibrahim Dayef Al-Deen, who briefed him on Jordan's need for assistance, in the editorial of the newspaper under the title (Jordan's stance) is a reference to the rejection of the alliances and trenching and the need to remain in a place away from the struggle of the poles 23 The newspaper highlighted in its main title the statement of the Minister of Extension Salah Salem, that the Negev and the Gaza Strip should be annexed to Jordan, and the need for a road linking the two countries, and that this is a life or death issue for Egypt 24. D. Suez Canal events: The desire of the Egyptian government to improve its economic conditions and to increase the area of its arable land, and to fully benefit from the Nile water and generate huge electricity power from its water, it was appropriate to build a dam in Aswan to achieve that; hoping to gain the support of the Western Countries, in 19 of July a statement was issued by the US State Department refusing to contribute in building the High Dam, the next day Britain withdrew its offer and was followed by the World Bank which also withdrew its offer on 21st of July 1956. The Egyptian response to the withdrawal of the Western offer was represented in the decision to nationalize the Suez Canal Company, and on 26th of July 1956, on the fifth anniversary of the July Revolution, Abd Al-Nasser delivered a speech in Alexandria announcing the nationalization of the Suez Canal, to become the property of the Egyptian people, and because of the nationalization of the Suez Canal company, King Hussein sent a congratulation telegraph to the President Abd Al-Naser, who in response to the telegraph announces that Egypt stands beside Jordan in its struggle to get rid of the consequences of colonization, so we find in the editorial of the newspaper which came under the title of (Joint Jihad) commenting in the telegraph exchanged between King Hussein and President Abd Al- Nasser, and Abd Al-Nasser stating that confrontation is inevitable 25. When President Abd Al-Nasser announced his decision to nationalize the Suez Canal, the Defense newspaper singled out its main title " Abd Al-Nasser announces the nationalization of the Suez Canal, and freezes its funds", the resonance of this decision on the Jordanian people came in the newspaper editorial under the title 'Bravo Jamal!", as the newspaper called Abd Al-Nasser's speech what they call in 21 The Defense issue 5784, February 22 1955. 22 The Defense issue 5787, 25/2/1955. 23 The Defense issue 5795, 7/3/1955. 24 The Defense issue 5802, 21/3/1955. 25 The Defense issue 6215, 29/July/1956.
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 57 Britain as " Fireplace" speech, which means that the speaker sits in front of the fireplace and speaks to the people behind the microphone a family talk, free of word manipulation, language insufficiency, or even hypocrisy in the literature discourse, the newspaper also added in its editorial that Abd Al-Nasser speech was a heart to heart speech, his speech was coming from a wounded heart and directed to the Arab hearts which were scarred by the crimes of colonization with its own the long and dark history 26. The pro-abd Al-Nasser rallies were held thought the Kingdom on both its Eastern and Western Banks, asking the Arab Countries to take decisive measures and to stand by Cairo in defending its sovereignty and resources. In the context of the growing relations between the two countries came a report from the Defense newspaper on the 20th of September 1956, about the arrival of the first weapon shipment from Egypt to Jordan, and as confirmation from President Abd Al-Nasser to King Hussein that Jordan will not stand alone in its war, the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian forces has declared taking an oath in front of the Arab Nation that Jordan will enter the war immediately of any attempt was made to endanger Jordan's security 27. It appears that the Egyptian leadership wanted or send messages to more than one side, and the aim here is Israel and Iraq, and that the blackmailing of Jordan to enter the Baghdad alliance is what prompted the Commander-In -Chief of the Egyptian armed forces to such dangerous speech, taking into account that the relationship between King Hussein and the Guardian of the throne in Iraq Prince Abd Al- Illah was not friendly, as the guardian stood against King Hussein's inauguration on the throne. In the context of the growing relations between the two countries, and in an attempt to strike this relation, the Defense newspaper reported in its headline the assassination attempt on the Egyptian military attaché in Amman, and the serious injuries he suffered from, as well the King's visit to make sure of his status, he also informed the Egyptian ambassador in Amman of his grief and sorrow over the painful incident which led to the death of the attaché as a result of the explosion of a postal parcel coming from Jerusalem, and here we do not overlook the Israeli role in this matter. In the editorial entitled "Planted Hand" the newspaper said that everyone in Jordan is angered and sorry, and the king himself took care of the matter, as the government kept up and went to investigate the incident, and the people, and was there anyone who doesn't curse the hand that carried out this act, saying that it is not Jordanian but the enemy of Jordan and every Arabian country. For the assault took place on Jordanian land, before it fell on a military attaché in the embassy of a sister country, and the weapon used is a demonic yet the weapon of cowards, finally stating that the blood which is bled yesterday is the blood of Jordan 28. Three days after Amer's visit to Jordan, Jordan received five Egyptian jets at an official ceremony in which King Hussein was the first to greeters and recipients of these planes 29. And a week after receiving the shipment, King Hussein appealed to the Arab nation to stand by Egypt and participate in its mission to get rid of the consequences of colonization, which in turn would lead getting rid of colonization and its consequences in other countries. 30 It should be pointed out that the events that the two countries (Jordan and Egypt) went through in 156, from the Arabization of the Jordanian army, after King Hussein ended the services of the army commander Glubb Basha, the expulsion of all British officers on March 1956,nationalization of the Suez canal and the arrival of a national government in Jordan headed by Suleiman Al-Nabilsi, who was leaning towards dealing with the Soviet bloc and was close to Cairo, this was accompanied by the thrilled feelings of the Jordanian masses against the tripartite aggression on Egypt, and the Israeli harassments in Jordan, which made the leaderships of both countries and despite the ideological differences come together to a degree of compatibility, harmony and each party understood the circumstances of the other, from both internal and external environments, which means in another words that Abd Al-Nasser's Egypt 26 The Defense issue 9206, 15/July/ 1956. 27 The Defense issue 4638, 8/July/ 1956. 28 The defense issue 9300, 8/July/ 1956 29 The Defense issue 6288 23/July/1956. 30 The Defense, issue 6293 2/November/1956.
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 58 was aware of the pressure exerted on King Hussein, appreciating it and giving him room for maneuver, on the other hand King Hussein was aware that Egypt is the one holding the reins of the leadership of Arab nationalism, and has its own obligations and aspirations, and would not stand against those ambitions as long as it doesn't threaten his existence and the stability of Jordan. Here we note that the strong relations between Abd Al-Nasser, King Sau'd and King Hussein was based on the future outlook for the aspirations of the Arab nations, also King Hussein found in King Sau'd and Abd Al-Nasser a type of guarantee amidst the atmosphere of mistrust that was between King Hussein and the guardian of the throne in Iraq Abd AL-Illah. After the failure of the British and French attempt to hit Abd Al-Nasser project in 1956, and eliminate the non-bias policy, the United States moved to strengthen the Western influence in the Arab region. The Suez canal campaign proved that Britain is no longer the superpower which the world has known up until then, so that it can get it needs by resorting to Armed force or the threat of using it, or leading the international conference tables, the Suez campaign also proved that its leadership in the Western world evaporated after the United States emerged from its isolation and followed a positive global policy in the wake of World War II. 31 With the increasing penetration of the Soviet Union in the region at the time when Egypt sought to impose its leadership in the Arab East, by exploiting the contradictions in international and regional policy, this is when Washington's goal became repelling this crackdown and eliminating it whenever it was possible to do so, and the result of that was the transformation of the Middle East in the period between the early 1957 and mid 1958 to become the area of diplomatic conflict which had almost reached the brink of abyss between the United States which is supported by some Arabian governments, and the Nasserite-Style Arab nationalism supported by the Soviets. In early 1957 Eisenhower to some members of the congress " The current vacuum in the Middle East must be filled by the United States before it is filled by Russia" 32 After the declaration of Eisenhower principle which is known as filling the void, the three leaders, King Sau'd, Abd Al-Nasser and King Hussein met in Riyadh to discuss the attitude towards the American declaration, they also reviewed the pros and cons of this declaration, and its impact on the Arab national security. As for the Jordanian press stance towards Eisenhower's declaration, they agreed that it was colonization in a new way, and in its editorial Palestine newspaper commented in this context, describing Eisenhower's principle as a failed experiment, the article also stated that the Arab doesn't face a Russian threat or a Russian colonization in comparison with the West, so will we come out of colonization to be under the protection and in the interest of who? 33. In the same newspaper, Qadri Hafith Toqan wrote an article attacking Eisenhower's principle " There was a Void", and in a blatant mockery, saying that this means that the void is in the presence of colonization and not when it moved out, this indicates the Jordanians rejection for Eisenhower's principle 34. Two days later, President Abd Al-Nasser exchanged what was considered the most dangerous letters promising to expel the Jews from Gaza and the gulf of Aqaba 35. King Hussein accompanied by Prime Minister Suleiman Al-Nabulsi and the Royal Court President Bahjat Al-Tahlouni arrived in Cairo to discuss the Eisenhower Doctrine 36. 31 Al-Ghwaieen p.205 32 some resource 33 Palestine, 5/ January/1957. 34 Palestine 25/January/1956. 35 Same source. 36 Same source
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 59 After the termination of the Jordanian-British pact, President Abd Al-Nasser sent a telegraph in this regard to King Hussein, stressing that Egypt stood by Jordan 37. It should be noted that all Jordanian newspapers in that period were reflecting the extent of good relations between the two countries, especially that the convergence was helped by the circumstances and major turns wither they were regional or international, including: 1. Jordan's pro-egypt stance against the tripartite aggression. 2. Arabization of the Jordanian Army and the expulsion of the English leadership. 2. Termination of the Jordanian-British treaty, which was considered by Cairo to be a victory for the national heart. But soon after the relations between the two countries took on another king of relationship that is fraught with mistrust, consensus and incompatibility here or there. D. The Attitude of the Jordanian press from the Egyptian -Syrian unity: The idea of the Union of Syria and Egypt dates back to March 1955, when the two countries signed a military agreement to unify the command or their armies, and on September 3rd 1955, an economic agreement was signed between the two parties, and During the Suez crisis, the Syrian parliament issued a resolution calling for unity with Egypt, a delegation was sent to President Abd Al- Nasser, which told him that the proposal was worth considering. In the late November of 1957, an Egyptian parliamentary delegation visited Damascus, which helped the crystallization of this feeling, on this basis the Arab the Arab Socialist Baath party presented in December a project to establish a federal alliance between the two countries 38. On January 14,1958, a Syrian military delegation arrived in Egypt asking for the unity of both countries, reviewing the state of rift taking place in the Syrian army body, which can only be solved by President Abd Al-Nasser taking rule in the federal country that includes Cairo and Damascus, the Syrian generals welcomed president Abd Al-Nasser, but also showed reservations and displayed conditions, which of the most important is excluding the army from politics, and the dissolution of all political parties, including the Arab Socialist Baath Party. On March 6, 1958, Abd Al-Nasser announced the formation of the federal government, he retained the post of Prime Minister, this government also included Abd Al-Latif Al-Baghdadi, Abd Al-Hakeem Amer, Akram Al-Horani and Sabri Al-Asali from Syria as Vice-Presidents of the Republic, and thirty ministers eighteen of which are Egyptian and twelve Syrian 39. The declaration of the United Arab Republic raised King Hussein's fears and doubts towards Abd Al-Nasser, and especially after the increase of his influence in the street and the Jordanian opposition, as Jordan feared the idea of Abd Al-Nasser being a neighbor to it, what reinforced these fears is the assertions of Abd Al-Nasser and Al-Qutli - during the celebration of unity- that the United Republic the first step towards comprehensive Arab unity, and that the door is open for any Arab country to join the Republic, those announcements were seen as indirect threats for the Arab regime and especially the monarchy regimes, and King Hussein was the closest target for this threat, because Jordan is considered a geographical divide between the two regions of the Republic 40. Here we refer to the end of the honeymoon phase that linked Saudi Arabia with Abd Al-Nasser's Egypt, what with the concerns of King Sau'd from such unity, that is why Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries that took upon itself fighting against the unity of Egypt and Syria. 1. The Jordanian Press attitude towards the Unity The Jordanian press didn't give prominence to the Egyptian-Syrian unity, as its news were broadcasted regularly and within the general news, there was little headlines, and that is because it coincided with the establishment of the Arab Union and because it opposed the Egyptian-Syrian unity. 37 Palestine 15/march/1957. 38 Al-Ghwaieen previous source, p.229. 39 Al-Ghwaieen Previous resource, p.232. 40 Al-Shilbi, Suhailah, Previous resource p.102.
British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 60 In the Defense speech issued on February 3rd 1958, entitled "Jordan and Unity" It wrote "... The little Arabian Jordan, whose elder brothers who call for unity and union holds against it various false accusations..." was able to prove in every step taken since the known conspiracy which also shook its entity and fate that to lift the fabrications and forgery with awareness and understanding, something no other of those who have fabricated conspiratorial plots was able to do..so is this all from proper and wise behaviors, which tempt other with the Arabian Jordan who believes in Greater Arab unity, should be listen to the new advocates of unity and believe what they demand from the statements and allegations about the good that they hold and the freedom they promise the Arab people, and their countries from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf 41. As for the Palestine newspaper in its editorial entitles " The Great Hurdle" it wrote " The Hashemites were the first to call for Arab unity, and the first objective of the Arab Renaissance which first bulled was shot by Al-Hussein bin Ali was to unite the Arabs in one country restoring their old glory, and from its fortified fort a great structure will rise for their forthcoming future, and so Hussein was to become a martyr in order to achieve thus hope" 42. This Jordanian newspapers position from the Egyptian -Syrian unity came in tandem with the official position of this unity, so the ignorance of the press and not singling out allocations, comments, analysis and limiting on some news about the unity, this could be clearly seen as an obvious expression of the explicit opposition to the unity from one perspective, and from another the highlighting of the Arab Hashemite Union news and focusing on them, allocating full editorials for the union and its news, which came as a response for the Egyptian -Syrian unity, is a further evidence of the Jordanian newspapers' opposition for the Egyptian -Syrian unity, in addition to that the newspapers highlighted some news about the opposition and negativity concerned with the Egyptian-Syrian unity, it also singled out some news like the invitation of the Cairo radio in its Hebrew bulletin on 10th of February 1958, to seize the opportunity to join the united Arab Republic 43. With this the Jordanian press reflected an official government position, it must be pointed out that the reason behind this is due to the martial laws imposed on Jordan and the freedom of publication, as the opposition press no longer exists except for voices her or there. 2. The Jordanian Press position on the collapse of the Federal country: The Jordanian press position on the Syrian coup was the official governmental stance, that is because all of the Jordanian newspaper at the time were official newspapers that spoke on the behalf of the government, and upon this basis the Jordanian newspapers welcome the Syrian coup. This welcome is shown through a quick review of the headlines that were singled out for the first newspaper pages and in all issued newspapers, for example the following headlines are read on the first page of the Palestine newspaper published on the morning of the coup: - The revolutionary movement in Syria aims to separate from Egypt and dissolve the unity with it. - Military leader say they will hand the power over to the civilians. - Isolating Syria from the world after a revolutionary movement carried out by units of the army. - We also read the following headlined on the first page of Al-Manar newspaper also published on the morning of the coup: - The army takes over the rule in Syria. - The success of the Syria's military coup, and all army units joined the movement. - On the front page of the Defense newspaper published on the 4th of October we read: - The pride of Al-Hussein, of the great position the Jordan took from the Syrian revolution. 41 The defense issue 6692, 3/ February/ 1958. 42 Palestine, 3/February/ 1958 43 The Defense 23/February/1958