The Syrian Crisis and the October 1957 Talks

Abstract

The crucial events which were to bring about much closer Anglo-American consultation over the Middle East took place in Syria. The main point about the Syrian crisis which began early in August 1957 was that in its initial stages it appeared to present a challenge which incorporated both of the different primary threats which concerned the two powers in the region. In other words, during the months of August to October 1957, it seemed to the American government that the Soviet Union, acting at first in conjunction with Nasser, was fermenting an anti-Western coup in Syria with the object of establishing a Soviet satellite state in the heart of the Middle East. The British were similarly concerned that Nasser, acting as the Soviets’ agent, might gain control of Syria in alliance with the indigenous Communists and create a superstate which would straddle the oil supply routes via the Suez Canal and the Iraqi Petroleum Company pipelines.