Cairo, June 13.

The visit of King Saud of Saudi Arabia to Jordan, which began to-day, though officially in return for the visit of King Hussein of Jordan to Arabia earlier this year, is seen here as part of the present Saudi campaign against possible isolation from the rest of the Arab world - with the exception of Egypt - which now seems inclined to reconsider its policy in relation to the Western Powers.

The present thinking in the Middle East seems likely to cause a major rift in the Arab League, leaving Egypt and Saudi Arabia in isolation. Though President Camille Shamoun of the Lebanon is reported to have sent a message to be handed to King Saud while he is in Amman, the Jordan capital, saying that no change in Lebanese policy is contemplated without Arab League approval, there is no doubt that Saudi Arabia fears some kind of "fertile Crescent" grouping and suspicions are likely because of Iraq's attachment to the Turco-Pakistan pact, on which lively rumours continue to circulate in the Middle East.

Recent discussions between the Pakistani Premier, Mohamed Aly, and the Lebanese Premier, Abdullah el Yafi, on the subject of the pact and Middle East defence in general, has only served to increase the uneasiness of the current political situation. Egypt is now seeing a strong challenge to her position as the nominal dominant Power in the Arab League and to her policy of no dealings with the West until the Canal Zone issue has been settled. This was the reason for last week's discussions between Major Salah Salem, of Egypt, and King Saud which resulted in the decision to organise Egyptian and Saudi defence matters on a common basis and to collaborate on all international decisions. In an official communiqué from the Saudi Government and in a statement from Salah Salem it was admitted that the major subject of discussions was "the attempts that are being made to draw some Arab countries into alliances with Powers opposing the Arabs."

While in Jordan the King of Saudi Arabia will also undoubtedly discuss the question of the defence of Jordan's frontiers with Israel and may offer increased material help. But the real emphasis in the talks will be the attempt to preserve some kind of unity among the Arab States.

Meanwhile it is not unreasonable to read into some recent hints dropped in Cairo that Egypt, seeing the growing impatience of some other Arab States, is anxious for a speedy settlement of the Anglo-Egyptian dispute. An inspired "leak" last week saying that there had been a proposal for a commission of representatives of Britain, Egypt, and India to determine the question of the reactivation of the base, though promptly denied by all official sources, is seen here as only one item in evidence to this effect. Of more practical importance is the present apparent efforts of the Egyptian authorities to co-operate in the prevention of further violence in the Canal zone.