Britain and the Crisis, 1955–1956

Norway and a major international crisis: Suez ‐ the very difficult case

“…What Dulles had planned as a possible step towards peace, Eden presented as something akin to a declaration of war. 29 Dulles' SCUA proposal, and particularly the aggressive version presented by Eden, stirred up strong reactions around the globe. In Norway, the proposal was regarded as an unnecessary provocation towards Egypt.…”

“…One week later, AngloFrench forces landed on Egyptian soil. 46 Throughout the world, news of these actions was received with shock. The Norwegians were at a loss to understand, let alone explain, the behaviour of Britain and France.…”

“…President Eisenhower, determined to stop the aggression, then took the resolution to the General Assembly, where the great powers had no veto. 48 In the United Nations and in NATO, Norway stood firmly on the US side, sharing completely Washington's view and heavy condemnation of their common allies. In Norway, reactions had been just as sharp within as outside the governing Labour Party.…”

The Anglo-American ‘Special Relationship’ and the Middle East 1945–1973

“…37 Eden subsequently stressed that "it would be hard to imagine a statement more likely to cause the maximum allied disunity and disarray". 38 In a similar vein, Eden's press secretary, William Clark, complained: "Dulles pulled the rug from under us and watered down the Canal Association till it was meaningless". 39 "The nub of the thing", recalled US Ambassador in London, Winthrop Aldrich, "was that Eden thought this organization [SCUA] was being formed for the purpose of laying a basis for intervention by force".…”

“…They went blindly ahead and ... have been suffering one of the most severe diplomatic defeats Britain has taken in many years". 71 Although Eden's successors avoided a Suez-style breach with the Americans, they still showed a propensity to act in the Middle East without full backing from Washington. The decision of the new Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, to send British troops to Jordan to stabilize the Kingdom following the July 1958 revolution in neighbouring Iraq was far from welcome in Washington and received, at best, grudging support.…”