THE Suez Canal Crisis of 1956 was the subject of discussion at Teignmouth Probus Club, led by Steve Brooks, a member of Dawlish Probus Club.

When President Nasser wanted to nationalise the Suez Canal, it caused outrage in Britain and France, as the waterway was created for the use of all maritime nations and embodied in the Treaty of Constantinople of 1858, and was not for the Egyptians to take.

The canal was built by Britain and France in 1859 and opened in 1869, when Egypt was a British Protectorate.

The questions raised were:

Why was Sir Anthony Eden, Prime Minister so much maligned?

Why was the US so hostile when Israel was ‘on side’, and

Was this event the beginning of the end of the British Empire?

These questions were all answered from historical records and the international politics of the day.

Britain secured a secret pact for Israel to invade with Britain and France to go in, secure the canal and act as peacemaker. However the US was opposed to any invasion and USSR emboldened, invaded Hungary.

To force Britain, the US applied economic sanctions by selling sterling, causing a run on the pound and withdrawing credit resulting in Britain being no longer able to pay for the action.

Thus US and Russia forced Britain to cease action and withdraw.

Later, history reveals that Eisenhower and Dulles both felt in retrospect that their action was not the right decision.

If the Marines had been allowed a few more days to finish the occupation of the canal zone, there could have been a different outcome.

Question time was lively, with a vote of thanks by Tom Haines.

The next meeting is on Wednesday, February 3, when Rebecca Pope is talking about making the most of your money.

The February 17 meeting is abandoned as the meeting hall is closed for redecoration.