Important Statements by King Saud
The Harm Inflicted on the Arabs by the Iraqi–Turkish Pact
London, March 12 — By Zaghloul El‑Sayed
His Majesty King Saud granted an important interview to the special correspondent of The Sunday Times, in which he clarified his view of the Iraqi–Turkish Pact and the betrayal committed by Iraq through an attempt that harmed Arab unity.
His Majesty declared that the Arab unity project proposed by Egypt was open to all Arab states, and that this initiative came in response to the aspirations of the Arab peoples and in fulfillment of their hopes. The details of the project were still under study, with the aim of achieving the greatest possible strength and benefit for all Arabs.
Military Charter or Arab Unity First?
The correspondent asked whether the Arab states that had approved the project would focus first on implementing the new military charter—intended to replace the Collective Security Pact—or whether they would prioritize strengthening Arab unity itself.
King Saud replied:
“The announced project includes efforts to unify military command and to ensure the participation of Arab armed forces in collective defense against any attack or sudden aggression on any member state. The project also addresses the establishment of a Higher Economic Council and the formation of an economic union among the states that accept the new initiative. All these details will be discussed at the meeting scheduled to be held later this month.”
Arab States and the West
Question:
Is there hope that the Arab states might cooperate with the West?
King Saud:
“This depends entirely on the Western countries’ response to the resolutions of the recent Arab Foreign Ministers’ Conference, which called for resolving all outstanding Arab–Western issues across the political spectrum.”
The Damage Caused by the Turkish–Iraqi Pact
Question:
What is Your Majesty’s view of the harm inflicted on the Arab League by the Turkish–Iraqi Pact?
King Saud:
“Iraq has allied itself with Turkey—a country that maintains agreements with Israel, which remains at war with the Arab states. Moreover, Turkey has concluded agreements with certain Western countries that still refuse to settle many of the issues between them and the Arabs.”
Israel–Turkey Relations
Question:
Are Turkey’s commercial relations with Israel the reason behind Arab opposition to the Turkish–Iraqi Pact?
King Saud:
“Many countries maintain commercial relations with Israel. But when Turkey engages in such relations, we view it as a betrayal of its brothers. This situation is not comparable to our relations with distant countries with which we share only basic human ties. Turkey is an Eastern, Muslim country whose borders neighbor those of the Arab states. Furthermore, not a single Arab country has entered into any new alliance with any foreign state since the establishment of the Arab League.”
The Gaza Incident
His Majesty described the Gaza incident as “one of the most brutal and savage attacks carried out by Israel along the Arab borders, and clear evidence that Israel respects neither agreements nor covenants.”
He added that Saudi Arabia fully supports Egypt in any action it chooses to take.
And although the Security Council condemned Israel for the Gaza attack, the issue, he said, was not merely one of compensation for those who lost their lives due to Israeli treachery and aggression. The real issue was that Britain and the United States—supporters of Israel—must recognize the necessity of ending this support, and must stop supplying Israel with weapons and equipment used in such criminal assaults, which Israel commits with increasing boldness due to the encouragement it receives.
Iraq’s Position
Final Question:
Would Iraq be allowed to join the new Arab pact announced by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria if it requested to do so?
King Saud:
“There is no doubt that this would be possible—on the condition that Iraq renounces the pact it concluded with Turkey.”
Source: Al‑Akhbar Newspaper
Al‑Mahrousa for Publishing, Press Services, and Information
Date: March 13, 1955