Question

The Egyptian President Colonel Nasser was aggressively in favour of Arab unity and independence. In this context,

Discuss any four hostile measures adopted by him to counter the increasing Anglo-French control of the Suez Canal.

Answer 1

Four measures adopted by Colonel Nasser are as follows:

1. Nationalization of the Suez Canal Company: The Suez Canal Company, which had been owned and run by British and French interests, was declared to be nationalized by Nasser on July 26, 1956. Nasser stated in his address that the Aswan High Dam project would be financed by canal profits and that the firm was an Egyptian entity under Egyptian control. This was an aggressive and direct attempt to break Anglo-French financial power.
2. Rejection of international proposals and conferences: Nasser declined to go to the First London Conference, which was held in August 1956 and suggested that the canal be under international administration. He clarified that the Menzies delegation sent to negotiate lacked the authority to take into account counter-proposals and that the meeting was distorted. Any measure that would compromise Egyptian sovereignty over the canal was categorically opposed by him.
3. Immediate rejection of the Suez Canal Users’ Association (SCUA): In September 1956, Britain and France proposed forming a Suez Canal Users’ Association (SCUA), which Nasser swiftly rejected. He said that the British Prime Minister’s threatening approach aimed to rob Egypt of its canal rights and breach the 1888 Constantinople Convention. His abrupt rejection challenged Anglo-French attempts to preserve control.
4. Mobilization of nationalist sentiment and resistance: Nasser rallied Egyptian and Arab nationalist enthusiasm against the colonial powers. In his remarks, he stated that Egypt would protect its sovereignty and that anyone who occupied would “never leave Egypt alive.” He also warned that Egypt would fight “a regular war, a total war, a guerrilla war”. In addition, he sought weapons from the Soviet bloc, undermining Western regional control.