Pearson & Pearson & the Suez Crisisthe Suez Crisis

Suez CanalSuez Canal

Suez CrisisSuez Crisis

► July 26 1956- Egyptian President Abdul July 26 1956- Egyptian President Abdul Nasser nationalises the Suez Canal Nasser nationalises the Suez Canal Company Company

►This had been run by Britain and FranceThis had been run by Britain and France►Nasser could now block the flow of oil to Nasser could now block the flow of oil to

these countriesthese countries►This would cripple their economies and This would cripple their economies and

reduce their influence in the Middle Eastreduce their influence in the Middle East

►Although a legal action, Britain and Although a legal action, Britain and France prepare for an invasionFrance prepare for an invasion

►Under Nasser the canal is run very Under Nasser the canal is run very well and there is no excuse to invadewell and there is no excuse to invade

►They need an excuse…They need an excuse…► Israel is an ally to France and Britain Israel is an ally to France and Britain

and is having political issues with and is having political issues with EgyptEgypt

► Israel launches an invasion on Egypt. Israel launches an invasion on Egypt. ►This gives Britain and France the This gives Britain and France the

excuse they need to enter as excuse they need to enter as “peacekeepers”“peacekeepers”

►Once Israel invades Egypt, Britain Once Israel invades Egypt, Britain and France enter as peacekeepers and France enter as peacekeepers and begin bombing Egyptian and begin bombing Egyptian positions positions

►   France and Britain are condemned France and Britain are condemned at the United Nations at the United Nations

►U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower is U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower is against this actionagainst this action

►The Western alliance is ripped apartThe Western alliance is ripped apart► It looks very likely that we are It looks very likely that we are

about to see WWIII (With nukes!!)about to see WWIII (With nukes!!)

Lester B. PearsonLester B. Pearson

Pearson’s Role in the Suez Pearson’s Role in the Suez CrisisCrisis

►At the time he was Secretary of At the time he was Secretary of External Affairs of CanadaExternal Affairs of Canada

►Canada had no economic or military Canada had no economic or military interest in the Suez he was in a good interest in the Suez he was in a good position to negotiate (unbiased)position to negotiate (unbiased)

►He works with the U.N. to create the He works with the U.N. to create the world’s first real peacekeeping forceworld’s first real peacekeeping force

►This is no easy task. Canada has This is no easy task. Canada has no permanent seat on the U.N. no permanent seat on the U.N. security councilsecurity council

►He must wait until November of He must wait until November of 1956 to make his proposals1956 to make his proposals

►From Nov. 1From Nov. 1stst to 4 to 4thth, 1956 Pearson , 1956 Pearson spends 4 sleepless days working to spends 4 sleepless days working to create the U.N. peacekeeping forcecreate the U.N. peacekeeping force

►He succeeds and within two weeks He succeeds and within two weeks real peacekeepers are sent to real peacekeepers are sent to EgyptEgypt

►By the end of the year British and By the end of the year British and French troops withdrawFrench troops withdraw

Back in CanadaBack in Canada

►Many dislike that Pearson was not Many dislike that Pearson was not loyal to “the Mother Country” (Britain)loyal to “the Mother Country” (Britain)

►He doesn’t receive much praise until He doesn’t receive much praise until Oct. 1957 when he wins the Nobel Oct. 1957 when he wins the Nobel Peace PrizePeace Prize

► January 1958 he becomes leader of January 1958 he becomes leader of the Liberal partythe Liberal party

►1963 he is elected Prime Minister1963 he is elected Prime Minister