Selection: Michalis Katsigeras

MIDDLE EAST CRISIS: Diplomatic and military developments over the past 24 hours, as Western forces deploy in Lebanon and Jordan, can be summed up as follows: The Soviet army has begun large-scale exercises in Transcaucasia and Turkestan, while the Bulgarian armed forces have been holding exercises with the participation of the Soviet air force. Their objective is to exert pressure from the north and west on Turkey in order to prevent it intervening in Iraq. Yugoslavia sees the exercises as a threat to its security and fears that the Western intervention in Lebanon could provide the Soviets with an excuse to attack Yugoslavia. The bridgehead created by the US landings in Lebanon was expanded yesterday. A US force of some 5,000 men have landed in Adana, giving the impression that the NATO mechanism has been quietly set in motion. At the same time, British forces have already arrived in Amman, following an appeal from Jordan’s King Hussein. The Security Council has heard representations from Jordan against the United Arab Republic. However no decision is expected as the Soviets would veto any US proposal.