Onto the Bandwagon

Gamal Abdel Nasser still had the most popular commodity in the Middle East--the lure of Arab unity.

A 14-man Algerian delegation, headed by Defense Minister Houari Boumedienne showed up in Cairo to pay its respects. "Regarding Arab unity," said Boumedienne. "our objective should be the creation of solid, strong and healthy bases. The Arab people are not ready to accept another setback, another letdown. For that reason, all steps toward Arab unity must be absolutely unshakeable."

Nasser agreed completely. "We refuse, if anybody asks us,'' he said, "to form a nominal union for outward appearances.'' Later, he fervently told a Syrian delegation headed by Baath Party Leaders Michel Aflak and Salah El-Bitar: "We believe the tide of revolutionary union in this generation is a historic opportunity which will not repeat itself." He also suggested that the Baathists broaden their new Syrian government to bring in popular--that is, Nasserite--elements.

"Man of Crises." He got fast results. Within three days, pro-Nasser Lieut. General Louai Attassi was named president of the Syrian Council of the Revolutionary Command, and the council itself was enlarged to admit a Nasserite majority. Attassi predicted that union with Egypt and Iraq would be achieved "shortly," claiming, "This tripartite federation will spread and spread until the entire Arab world from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf is unified in one powerful state, weighing heavily in the balance of world power."

Even one of Nasser's enemies in the Arab world--the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan--showed signs last week of being discreetly available. In his stone Basman Palace in Amman, guarded by Circassian troopers in astrakhan hats, Jordan's King Hussein deftly shifted Prime Ministers. Out went muscular Wasfi Tal, 43, an efficient but Nasser-hating administrator. In came Jordan's "man of crises,'' five-time Prime Minister Samir Rifai, 62, who has been campaigning in recent months for more democracy inside Jordan and an end to antagonism against Nasser.

What's the Difference? After a late night talk, King Hussein and Rifai agreed on a new government, looking toward parliamentary democracy and Hussein's eventual retirement to the figurehead role of a constitutional monarch. They even gingerly accepted the Nasser-Baath slogan of ''Freedom, Unity, Socialism,'' with only the slight amendment of the final word to read "A Better Life."

What was still uncertain last week was whether Nasser is prepared to drop or modify his present determination to unite only with "liberated" Arab states and to shun monarchies. Said new Jordanian Prime Minister Rifai: ''We have our pride. We are just as healthy and strong as any Arab state. We don't intend to rush into anything, but we do intend to proclaim our good will and our attachment to Arab unity." Then he added hopefully, "There's every reason for the new Arab union to welcome Jordan and no reason to bar a constitutional monarchy. We have more freedom than many republics. What's the difference anyway between a constitutional president and a constitutional king?''

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