The Suez Crisis

Eden and Nasser meeting at the British Embassy in Cairo February, 1955

A Brief History of the Suez Canal

- 1856 Suez Canal Company formed - 1859 Canal opened for navigation - 1875 Britain becomes the biggest shareholder in the Company - 1936 Egypt virtually independent from Britain - 1954 Egypt and UK sign a 7 year contract for the withdrawal of British forces from the canal - July 1956 Egypt nationalises the canal - July 1956 Israeli troops invade - October 1956 French and British troops invade - December 1956 France and Britain withdraw - March 1957 Israel withdraws

Changing Attitudes towards Imperialism

-Labour Party no longer sees Britain as solely responsible for what happens in Egypt
- Of 3 service ministers, only 1 believed force was a good idea
- Public opinion strongly opposed to British military involvement

- Labour attitude strengthened under the explosion of popular anger caused by the military intervention - Interest in Egypt portrayed as Edens foolish personal vendetta
- British War Aims in Egypt document (pg70) personal antipathy -> official policy - Eden claimed that Britain had to act before the UN Security Council had reached its decision, when in fact they proposed something that he vetoed Criticism of Edens actions also came in many other forms

HUGH GAITSKELL

Pictured here in 1951 during his appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Rt. Hon. HUGH GAITSKELL C.B.E., M.P: Leader of the Opposition Address on The Suez Crisis NOVEMBER 1956

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkRoEF1N7o E

The Rt. Hon. HUGH GAITSKELL C.B.E., M.P: Leader of the Opposition NOVEMBER 1956 Good evening. It has been a tragic, terrible week. Indeed a tragic and terrible day with the news coming in about Hungary. Its been, I think, by far the worst week for the world and for our country since 1939. Last Monday evening came the news of the Israeli attack on Egypt. Israel had been threatened and provoked; she was entitled to better guarantees of her security, but there is no denying that the largescale invasion of Egypt was an act of aggression. Im not going to try to apportion the blame, thats really the job of The United Nations. But what should we have done? Thats the real question. The Prime Minister says we couldnt afford to wait; we had to act, he said, immediately on our own before the Security Council could decide or do anything. Yet what are the facts? By Tuesday evening, even before the twelve-hour ultimatum to Egypt had expired, the Council had met, reached a clear decision, and been blocked by the Prime Ministers own veto. There was no lack of speed here. The trouble was obstruction, obstruction by Great Britain. What should we have done? If only we had supported that resolution and followed it up by proposing that a United Nations police force should see that the resolution was carried out. I dont believe the present Prime Minister can carry out this policy. I bear him no ill will. We have been personally quite friendly but his policy this last week has been disastrous and he is utterly, utterly discredited in the world. Only one thing now can save the reputation and the honor of our country. Parliament must repudiate the governments policy. The Prime Minister must resign.

Clearing Away the Wreckage cartoon from the Daily Mirror 20th November 1956

Prime Minister Anthony Eden as a sheep in wolf's clothing at the beginning of the Suez crisis cartoon from Punch magazine

Divided We Stand cartoon from the Daily Mirror 2nd November 1956