(contents)
Chapter 1. Wave
of nationalism and socialism (1945-1956) (4)
020. Formation of the Arab League (1/2)
World War II had continued for 6 years starting from German invasion to Poland in 1939 till Japanese surrender in 1945. The battlefield expanded in Europe, Southeast Asia, Far East and the Pacific Ocean. Middle Eastern countries evaded the battle. They did not belong either to the Allied Powers nor the Axis Countries during early stage of the war. Iraq and Iran participated to Allied Powers in 1943. Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other countries participated in 1945 when the result of the war almost apparent to the favor of Allied Powers. In the World War II Germany faced enemies on both west and east Europe. Britain, the United States and France were in Western Europe, and USSR was in Eastern Europe. Germany could not spare its force to the Middle East. That was the reason why the Middle East was out of the battlefield during the war.
In March 1945, just before the end of the World
War II, the Arab world's first international organization, namely Arab League,
was formed. The Arab League was originally established by 7 countries including
Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen (then Northern Yemen) and Saudi
Arabia. They have signed the Alexandria Protocol.
The Arab League was not formed voluntarily
by the Arab countries themselves. British strategy having a strong influence to
the Middle Eastern countries resulted in the Alexandria Protocol. Anthony Eden,
then Secretary State for War of UK, recommended Arab countries to form the Arab
League. The headquarters of the Arab League was placed in Cairo, Egypt, and an
Egyptian diplomat was appointed as the secretary general. Later Egypt was
expelled from the League when it concluded the unilateral peace treaty with
Israel in 1979. However, Egypt rejoined the Arab League in 1987. The Arab
League has now 22 members.
(To be continued ----)
(From an ordinary citizen in the cloud)
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