The Suez Crisis

The Suez Crisis began on July 26, 1956 when Egyptian President Abdul Nasser revealed to the public about the Suez Canal Company – which had been run by the French with the British government as the shareholder of about forty-four percent. 

Named “The Lifeline of Empire”, the Suez Canal was an absolutely fundamental waterway for oil. If Egypt decided to block the precious flow, he could cripple the British economy. Just as critical, Egypt’s dramatic gesture comes during the midst of the Cold War while Britain and France are struggling to sustain their power in the Middle East and North Africa as well as their personal sense of significance.

The British cabinet admits in private that if Egypt does obstruct the Canal, the action is technically legal – especially as he declares he will pay back the shareholders. However, London and Paris both feel they can’t afford to undergo this offence to their pride and prestige, especially with their dominance in their economy at stake. Immediately, they commence making preparations for a military assault. This will take months to plan and conduct. In the meantime, the Egyptian President Abdul Nasser tries to pursuit a number of policies to discourage the British. He tends to run the Canal as a business, giving London and Paris no reason to invade.

As the Canal traffic gush smoothly under Egyptian ownership, the original public fury disappears and the widespread support for a military strike begins to fade. The British Prime-Minister Anthony Eden decides he needs an alleged reason to invade. 

Meanwhile, France is fighting a distracted revolutionary war in Algeria and sees Abdul Nasser as the dangerous personification of an all Arabian autonomy. The French government is eager to supply the British with their much required materials after give an alleged reason to invade Egypt and hopefully bring down Abdul Nasser.

In October 1956, French officials organize an agreement with the newly created State of Israel, already an ally in the war against Nasser.

Worried by the recent arms achievement in Egypt, and pursuing to build up praise with the Great Powers, Israel agrees to initiate a major strike against Egypt. This will allow France and Britain to convey their uprising anxiety for peace and let their troops, the “peacekeepers” to separate the Israeli and Egyptian armies.

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, with no military, economic or geo-strategic interest in the Canal, Canada and Lester B. Pearson is in a perfect situation to shape out a middle ground among the two tremendous positions.