Notes for World History
THE SUEZ WAR OF 1956
- Nasser, the new ruler of Egypt, was aggressively in favour of Arab unity and independence, including the liberation of Palestine from the Jews; and took several decisions which irritated the British, Americans and French.
- In 1936, Britain had signed an agreement with Egypt which allowed the British to keep troops at Suez. This treaty was due to expire in 1956, and Britain wanted to renew it. Nasser refused to do so.
- He sent help to Algerian Arabs in their struggle against France. He prodded the other Arab states into opposing the British-sponsored Baghdad Pact, and forced Jordan to dismiss its British army chief.
- He signed an arms deal with Czechoslovakia for Russian arms. This outraged the Americans as they saw Egypt going into the communist fold and saw it as a Russian plot to move into the Middle East. USA therefore cancelled a promised grant towards the building of a dam at Aswan.
- Crisis point was reached when Nasser immediately retaliated by nationalizing the Suez Canal, intended to use the income from it to finance the dam. Shareholders in the canal, the majority of whom were British and French, were promised compensation.
- Britain believed that Nasser was on the way to forming a united Arabia under Egyptian control and communist influence, which could cut off Europe’s oil supplies.
- Britain, France , and Israel planned to invade Egypt and topple Nasser from power. The Americans, who were afraid of upsetting all the Arabs and forcing them into closer ties with the USSR, refused to support Britain.
- At the United Nations, US and Russia demanded an immediate ceasefire and prepared to send a UN force. With the pressure of world opinion against them, Britain, France and Israel agreed to withdraw from Egypt.
The outcome of war:
- Nasser’s prestige was greatly increased as the war failed to overthrow him.
- The Egyptians blocked the canal, the Arabs reduced oil supplies to western Europe, and Russian aid replaced that from the USA.
- The British action soon lost them an ally in Iraq.
- Britain was now weak and unable to follow a foreign policy independent of the USA.
- The Algerians were encouraged in their struggle for independence from France.
