15. Egypt and the Suez Crisis

Question 1

How did Churchill’s government approach Egypt and the Suez Canal?

Answer 1

• In 1951, Britain had 40,000 troops in the Suez Canal Zone - this was unpopular but previous attempts to force Britain out failed
• Churchill regarded the Suez as being of vital importance
• In 1953, Britain and Egypt reached an agreement on the Sudan - after 3 years Sudan would have the choice between independence or a union with Egypt - Sudan chose independence in 1956
• In 1953, British military leaders now agreed that the Suez base was no longer essential
• They made an agreement in July 1954 by which British troops would be withdrawn within 20 months but Britain could reoccupy if Egypt was attacked

Question 2

What were the key developments in the relationship between Britain and Egypt, 1951-56?

Answer 2

• 1952 - Colonel Nasser comes to power
• 1953 - Agreement over Sudan’s independence
• 1954 - Agreement over the Suez Canal - phased withdrawal of troops; free access through the Suez Canal; respect the independence of the Suez Canal Company
• 1955 - Baghdad Agreement - treaty with Turkey, Pakistan, Iraq and Persian to repel Soviet threat in the Middle East
• 1956 - Plans for Aswan High Dam - Nasser plans to develop Egypt by construction of a new dam - Britain and USA withdrew financial aid for the project due to Nasser association with communist powers (the USSR continued to)
• 1956 - Nationalisation of the Suez Canal - realisation and to fund the dam Nasser seized control of the Suez Canal Company and publicly denounced British imperialism - extremely popular move in Egypt and throughout the Middle East

Question 3

What was the Sèvres Protocol?

Answer 3

• A secret agreement between Britain, France and Israel in October 1956
• The agreement was aimed at regaining Western control of the Suez Canal and overthrowing Egyptian President Nasser
• Israel would invade Egypt (29 Oct)
• Britain and France would demand a ceasefire and withdrawal of troops from the Suez Canal Zone to ‘defend it’

Question 4

What happened during the invasion?

Answer 4

• The Israelis invaded Egypt through Sinai
• The Egyptians refused to agree to a ceasefire
• British and French paratroopers invaded Suez Canal Zone
• Egyptian resistance was fierce and Nasser called for ships to be sunk to block the canal
• Britain was met with international disapproval of its actions

Question 5

Why did Britain have to withdraw its troops and hand over the ‘police action’ to the UN?

Answer 5

• Britain miscalculated the international (especially American) reaction - Britain had embarked on military operations without informing the USA
• Opposition amongst British public
• Aggressive guerrilla campaign - forced Britain to withdraw 80,000 troops from a base on the Suez Canal
• The Soviets threatened to use nuclear weapons
• Sterling crisis (blocked canal and withdrawal of international investment) - USA only agreed to help if Britain withdrew

Question 6

To what extent did the Suez Crisis show that Britain was no longer a world power? (Britain was no longer a world power)

Answer 6

• Britain would never seek to act alone in imperial or international affairs without the approval of the USA
• Nationalist movements seeking independence knew that if they pushed harder they could force Britain to surrender - containing nationalist movements became harder
• British politician came to accept that the demands of nationalists would have to be accepted sooner or later
• Dispelled the notion that Britain could manage and control its retreat from the Empire whilst preserving power
• The Commonwealth was shown to be less susceptible to British influence and interests
• Britain could no longer use military might as a way of maintaining control
• Britain had to accept the immediate loss of influence in the Suez - had no say
• Pro-British regimes in the Middle East were embarrassed and weakened - Jordan denounced its treaty with Britain
• British influence in Iraq faded after Nasser’s election in 1958
• Trigger of imperial decline and accelerated previous ongoing decline

Question 7

To what extent did the Suez Crisis show that Britain was no longer a world power? (Britain was undamaged and remained a world power)

Answer 7

• Conservatives won the 1959 election (Macmillan took over) despite Eden resigning due to poor handling of the crisis
• Relations with the USA were quickly restored - Britain was a very important ally in the Cold War (fight against communism)
• Britain continued to dominate the Sheikhdoms in the Arabian Gulf
• Britain still had a great military presence in the Middle East and around the world until the late 1960s
• Britain continued to defend its oil interests in the region

Question 8

To what extent did the Suez Crisis show that Britain was no longer a world power? (summary)

Answer 8

• Very much so
• Britain’s belief that it could act alone (without the USA) was disproved in the Suez Crisis
• Proved that Britain could not rely on the Commonwealth for unconditional support
• Further weakened the empire - inspired nationalism and more opposition to British rule
• Showed that Britain was unable to enforce its empire through force