August 2, 1956
SUEZ WAR: London, 2 – As the conference of three Western countries (USA, Britain, France) ended this evening with a decision to call a 24-member conference to discuss setting up a control mechanism for the Suez Canal, and at the same time condemning the Egyptian government for not restricting itself to seizing the Suez Canal company’s assets but extending its authority over this major shipping lane, military measures taken by France and Britain are to be broadened and British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden has made harsh statements in the House of Commons against Egypt. The prevailing atmosphere is similar to that of September 1939, while there are confirmed reports of movements by British and French warships and bomber planes. French and British citizens, meanwhile, are evacuating Egypt. British army divisions are heading for Malta and Cyprus and Queen Elizabeth signed decrees today calling up special categories of reserves for «emergency training in the Eastern Mediterranean.» For the time being, the US does not appear willing to take part in any potential conflict. France and Britain are once again united in taking the lead.
