Suez Crisis 1956

Q Discuss the events of Nationalization of Suez Canal by president Gamal Abdul Nasir.

Ans On 26 July, 1956  President Gamal Abdul Nasir of Egypt announced that his govt. would nationalize the Suez Canal Company. Suez Canal connected Mediterranean sea and the Red sea and was 105 miles long., it linked Mediterranean with Suez. Britain and France had bought shares in canal. the canal was designed and executed by a French Engineer, ferdinand de Lesseps.
        Nasir's moral case for the nationalization of canal was fairly strong. From 1880 to 1936, the Egyptian Treasury had received no one penny of the huge profit made by canal company. In 1936, under the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, the canal was specifically recognized as an integral part of Egypt. Responsibility for its defense was laid on Egypt, assisted by Britain until such times as the Egyptian army was strong enough to undertake the task alone. Finally under the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement (Suez Canal Base) of 1954, Egypt alone became responsible for defending the canal in peace time.
       After Nasir's announcement, British troops were to be withdrawn and the last of the occupation troops did, in fact, embark at Port Said on 15 June, 1956. Nasir also wanted to divert a part of the canal income for the construction of 'ASWAN DAM'. West had refused to provide funds for Aswan dam and Russia had provided expertise and money for its construction. According to International Law Nasir had the right to nationalize the Suez Canal.
      Britain and France colluding with Israel, encouraged Israel to invade Egypt. A Franco - British force could then intervene using the need to separate the combatants. The US was not informed of these plans. Israel invaded Sinai on 29 October 1956. Port Said suffered heavy damages and canal was seized by British and French forces.
      America did not support the Anglo-French aggression and USSR threatened Britain and France for nuclear devastation. Entire Arab world supported Nasir and oil supply to Britain and France either slowed down or stopped. Therefore, Britain and France were obliged to back -  down. They ordered their forces at Port Said  to ceasefire , air and naval operations  were also discontinued. Israel followed suit. After less than ten days of bombing and shelling, hostilities came to an end on 8 Nov. 1956. Nasir became an Arab hero.