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When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

1956 Part Two: The Suez Crisis Introduction

When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

Zack Twamley

19th Century, 20th Century, International Relations, Politics, Thirty Years' War, Korean War, 18th Century, First World War, Phd, 17th Century, European History, History, War

4.8773 Ratings

🗓️ 5 March 2024

⏱️ 19 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

1956 now enters its second season, and we are confronted with several pressing questions. How did the British, French, Israelis and Americans become involved in Egypt, and how did these events affect what was ongoing in Hungary? The incredible spectacle of these two simultaneous crises, both caused by very different forces, and hosting very different characters, is what we have to examine next, so I hope you'll join me as we introduce the Suez Crisis - perhaps the greatest error of modern Britain until the decision to Brexit! Get bonus content on Patreon

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Transcript

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0:00.0

In a public speech at Alexandria tonight, President Nasser announced that Egypt would build the Aswan Dam from her own resources.

0:09.0

Funds would be obtained from Operation of Suez Canal.

0:12.4

Law nationalizing Suez Canal and expropriating canal company was approved by Cabinet this morning.

0:19.1

Text, as read out by Nassar follows.

0:21.8

Police have just been posted around Canal Company's Cairo office.

0:27.2

British Ambassador to Egypt, Humphrey Trevelyan, reports on Nassar's provocative nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company.

0:35.1

Telegram received in London at 9.45pm, 26th of July, 1956.

0:42.9

I expect that most of us have seen, sometimes with amusement and sometimes with anger,

0:48.5

reports and orders, obviously worded with an eye to the future historian, or as we used to call them, for the record.

0:56.7

The wording of signals and orders for the record is a very fine art and well calculated to Fox

1:04.0

the historian. Lord Tether, writing in his book With Prejudice, 1966.

1:12.5

In England, in the late 1950s and early 60s, the word was a political taunt of considerable

1:18.7

force and pungency. One had only to shout, Suez, at a conservative orator, to see his features

1:25.6

decompose with dismay.

1:30.9

A classic Tory education, Eaton, Munich and Suez,

1:36.1

was how one scornful writer sketched the political career of a former prime minister.

1:43.8

Like Munich, indeed, Suez had become an indelible metaphor for fiasco, dishonor and humiliation.

1:47.6

Christopher Hitchens, writing in 1986.

2:04.0

Come to this nation, jump from the train March at the dobble down lovers' lane

2:08.4

Then in the glen where the roses entwined

2:13.0

Lay down your arms

2:15.2

Lay down your arms

...

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