Eisenhower Opposes the Suez Invasion

Secretary of State John Foster Dulles proposed a canal users' association to preserve international access while giving the principal governments a role in its operation. The proposal failed to secure the parties' agreement. British and French leaders continued their preparations while American officials tried to prevent a conflict among allies and Egypt. [1]

When the attack came, Washington was also condemning Soviet intervention in Hungary. Supporting European military action in Egypt would have conflicted with that position and risked opening a new opportunity for Soviet involvement in the Middle East. [1]

Dwight Eisenhower went on American television on 31 October 1956 to oppose the British and French attack on Egypt, undertaken without consulting the United States. The president who had commanded Allied forces in Europe now publicly challenged two of America’s closest allies. [2]

Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser had nationalized the Suez Canal Company in July. Britain and France sought to regain control and remove him from power, arranging a military intervention in secret cooperation with Israel. Israel attacked Egypt on 29 October; a British and French ultimatum then supplied the pretext for their own assault. [1]

Eisenhower’s government pressed for a ceasefire through the United Nations and applied economic pressure. Britain and France stopped their offensive on 6 November, before achieving their political aims. The canal remained under Egyptian control. [1]

Anthony Eden resigned as prime minister in January 1957. His successor, Harold Macmillan, began repairing relations with Eisenhower, meeting him in Bermuda that March after a defeat in Egypt and a bitter dispute with Washington. [1]

Related Diplomats

1. Sir Roger Makins [3]
2. Sir Harold Caccia [4]
3. Hervé Alphand [5]
4. Abba Eban [6]

Related Reading

• The United Kingdom and the United States
• Suez Invasion and Israeli Withdrawal Negotiations with Washington [1]
• Eisenhower Presses for a Ceasefire at Suez [1]