Suez Canal Presentation

12
The Suez Crisis

description

A presentation on the Suez Canal using political cartoons to contextualize the atmosphere of the Suez Crisis.

Transcript of Suez Canal Presentation

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The Suez Crisis

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Eden and Nasser meetingat the British Embassy

in CairoFebruary, 1955

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A Brief History of the Suez Canal

- 1856 – Suez Canal Company formed- 1859 – Canal opened for navigation- 1875 –Britain becomes the biggest shareholder in the Company

- 1936 – Egypt virtually independent from Britain- 1954 – Egypt and UK sign a 7 year contract for the withdrawal of British forces from the canal - July 1956 – Egypt nationalises the canal- July 1956 – Israeli troops invade - October 1956 – French and British troops invade- December 1956 – France and Britain withdraw- March 1957 – Israel withdraws

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Changing Attitudes towards Imperialism

- Interest in Egypt portrayed as Eden’s foolish personal vendetta- British War Aims in Egypt document (pg70) – personal antipathy ->

official policy - Eden claimed that Britain had to act before the UN Security Council

had reached its decision, when in fact they proposed something that he vetoed

-Labour Party no longer sees Britain as solely responsible for what happens in Egypt

- Of 3 service ministers, only 1 believed force was a good idea- Public opinion strongly opposed to British military involvement

Criticism of Eden’s actions also came in many other forms…

- Labour attitude strengthened under the explosion of popular anger caused by the military intervention

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HUGH GAITSKELL

Pictured here in 1951 during his appointment as Chancellor

of the Exchequer

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkRoEF1N7oE

The Rt. Hon. HUGH GAITSKELL C.B.E., M.P: Leader of the

Opposition

Address on The Suez Crisis NOVEMBER 1956

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The Rt. Hon. HUGH GAITSKELL C.B.E., M.P: Leader of the Opposition

NOVEMBER 1956  

“Good evening. It has been a tragic, terrible week. Indeed a tragic and terrible day with the news coming in about Hungary. It’s been, I think, by

far the worst week for the world and for our country since 1939. Last Monday evening came the news of the Israeli attack on Egypt. Israel had been threatened and provoked; she was entitled to better guarantees of

her security, but there is no denying that the large-scale invasion of Egypt was an act of aggression. I’m not going to try to apportion the

blame, that’s really the job of The United Nations. But what should we have done? That’s the real question. The Prime Minister says we couldn’t afford to wait; we had to act, he said, immediately on our own before the Security Council could decide or do anything. Yet what are the facts? By Tuesday evening, even before the twelve-hour ultimatum to Egypt had

expired, the Council had met, reached a clear decision, and been blocked by the Prime Minister’s own veto. There was no lack of speed here. The trouble was obstruction, obstruction by Great Britain. What should we

have done? If only we had supported that resolution and followed it up by proposing that a United Nations police force should see that the

resolution was carried out. 

I don’t believe the present Prime Minister can carry out this policy. I bear him no ill will. We have been personally quite friendly but his policy this

last week has been disastrous and he is utterly, utterly discredited in the world. Only one thing now can save the reputation and the honor of our country. Parliament must repudiate the government’s policy. The Prime

Minister must resign.

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Clearing Away the Wreckage – cartoon from the Daily Mirror – 20th November 1956

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Prime Minister Anthony Eden as a sheep in wolf's clothing at the beginning of the Suez crisis – cartoon from Punch magazine

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Divided We Stand – cartoon from the Daily Mirror – 2nd November 1956

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