The revolution and pacts (41), Ring of bilateral pacts (iii), Official reaction. The next day headlined: Damascus, October 20. The Egyptian-Syrian Pact soon received official and popular support in different parts of the Arab world. Saudi Arabia, which has been encouraging anti-Baghdad Pact initiatives, welcomed the Egyptian-Syrian pact. The Egyptian Gazette of October 25, 1955 carried a report headlined: Saud ‘Gives Blessing to Egyptian-Syrian Pact The Gazette report (datelined Damascus, October 24) said: “The Syrian delegation led by Premier Said el-Ghazzy, which has been visiting Saudi Arabia, arrived here at noon today and immediately conferred with President Shukry el-Kuwatly. “Expressing satisfaction at the results of the visit, Sayed el-Ghazzy said that King Saud had given his blessing to the recent pact between Egypt and Syria. “It was understood here that the Syrian Premier asked King Saud to grant Syria a loan to help towards financing important projects and equip the army. “An Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs communiqué issued yesterday afternoon announced the signing of the Egyptian-Syrian Defence Agreement in Damascus on October 20, 1955. “A high Syrian source yesterday commented on the Syrian-Egyptian Agreement by saying it fully realized the military defence purposed and established a unified military setup between the two countries which would ensure the safety of Syria and Egypt against their common enemy (reference to Israel/the author). “The same source said that the agreement was ‘the boldest step taken so far for the realisation of Arab unity on proper basis. The allegation that the agreement was opposed by some Arab countries was pure fabrication, the source said. In fact, similar agreements would be concluded among the Arab countries in various fields. The Agreement marks Syria's abandonment of the isolation she has been adopting during the past few years, said the same source. [email protected]
