President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt and President Shukri al-Kuwatly of Syria sign a document creating a new state: the United Arab Republic (U.A.R.), with Nasser at its head.
This is part of Nasser's efforts to unite all Arab nations under a single banner, but others in the Middle East fear Nasser's personal ambition and distrust his claims to altruistic motives and pan-Arab unity.
