The Suez Crisis

Question 1

What was the Suez Crisis?

Answer 1

• Nasser (president of Egypt since 1952) promised US and UK loans for Aswan Dam on Nile river, but when US learnt he’d also asked soviet bloc countries for aid they withdrew the loans
• July 1956 Nasser nationalised the Suez canal
• Eden wasn’t happy as essential oil supplies that came to Britain from Middle East came through the canal. The French also willing to join due to Egypts support of Arab nationalists in French Algeria
• US, French and British all joined Canal Users Association
• Strategy was to make Israel invade and the the French and British would interfere
• 29th October 1956 Israelis attacked

Question 2

What was significant about Britain’s involvement in Egypt before Suez Crisis?

Answer 2

• Egypt had achieved independence in 1936 but 40,000 British troops still stationed there in 1951
• October 1954 agreement for phased 20-month British withdrawal from Egypt was reached, but Britain could still use the canal

Question 3

Why did Britain withdraw from Suez?

Answer 3

• the strength of the opposition among the British people: Gaitskell and Bevan made withering attacks on what they described as Eden’s ‘mad venture’.
• fury of Eisenhower and Americans at not being consulted
• Britain’s failure to gain international backing
• condemnation of Britain at the UN
• reluctance of all but a few of of the Commonwealth countries to support Britain
• economic collapse: fall in currency reserves caused by withdrawals of deposits by international investors

Question 4

What was the significance of the Suez Crisis for Britain military wise?

Answer 4

• formation of Egypt militia and sinking by Nasser of some ships in the canal
• death of civilians in Egypt

Question 5

What was the significance of the Suez Crisis for Britain foreign politics wise?

Answer 5

• Khrushchev invasion of Budapest (Hungary) and brutal suppression of Hungarian uprising against soviet influence as they wanted independence (1956) no intervention from the west due to suez
• threats to drop nuclear weapons on Britain and France
• Eisenhower anger with Britain due to failure of consulting America (humiliation of UK)
• Egyptian hatred over UK policy
• Eden agreed to pull out UK troops and handover to UN, as USA had refused to help to support currency crisis until Eden agreed
• damaged UK reputation as powerful, positive influence over colonial areas
• Nasser became Egyptian hero

Question 6

What was the significance of the Suez Crisis for Britain politically domestically?

Answer 6

• demonstrations in London against Eden and Nye Bevan’s speech to rally opposition
• Eden’s resignation

Question 7

What was the significance of the Suez Crisis for Britain economically?

Answer 7

• decrease in UK currency reserves (Bank of England had lost 45 million in 4 days), threatened stability of pound sterling
• UK winter fuel crisis

Question 8

What happened in 1967 following the Suez Crisis?

Answer 8

• 6 day war where Israel defeated Egyptian offensive

- Eisenhower made USA key ‘power’ in middle eastern politics