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UK-history: Suez conflict 1956 - Coggle Diagram
UK-history: Suez conflict 1956
SUEZ CANAL: main artery connecting trade routes from the Mediterranean through to the indian ocean, vital route for oil shipments
80% of western Europes shipments passed through the canal
29 OCT put into operation: Israeli attack and anglo-french invasion followed. didn't go smoothly, but could have succeeded.
caused political protest in Britain
labour opposed conlict, anti-war protests held and public opinion was split on the need for the intervention
public opinion split on the need for intervention
US opposed the action, Britian not strong enough in 1956 to stand up to American pressure, plunged into serious financial crisis.
macmillan 1st to realise essential Britain pull out, accepting failure + humiliation
eden reputation was fatally damaged.
ANTONY EDEN (considered expert on foreign policy) INFLUENCED BY IMPERIAL MINDSET OF BRITAIN
saw Nassar as 'an evil dictator who could not be allowed to get away with unprovoked aggression' --> most of his cabinet agreed
encouraged by france + isreal. top secret meeting held at sevres, in paris --> they agreed a plan of action
Israel invade Europe: then Isreal + Britain intervene. this intervention would be to enforce peace on Egypt and Isreal. real effect would be to seize control pf the Suez control of the Suez canal
TOP SECRET: concealed from parliament and the Americans
emergence of Egyptian Independence from British rule --> new nationalist leader Colonel Nasser - worrying for British interests
US + GB pulled out of planned investment of the Aswan dam in 1956
response from Nassar: nationalisation of the Suez Canal company to provide finance for the dam.
this action seemed to place them on the soviet side of the cold war
britian reputation + reassesment: britain reputation as a force for good in the world, britian inability to act without the tactic support of the US + sharp releif the impact britans economic + finical policy had on the direction of foregin policy
started to undermine the belief that, in new global position post WW2, Britain was still one of the world's major powers
