Robert Anthony Eden Biography and Timeline — Page 5

British Government Receives Canal Seizure News

Anthony Eden learned of Egypt's nationalization announcement and began consultations on the implications for British commercial and strategic interests.

Role range: 1956-1956

Prime Minister Calls Ministers After Nationalization

Anthony Eden consulted senior colleagues after Egypt nationalized the canal company and began preparing a firm political response.

Role range: 1956-1957

Military Options Requested from Chiefs

Eden asks military chiefs to examine options for restoring Western control of the canal.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

British Cabinet Weighs Options After Nationalization

Anthony Eden and his ministers examined diplomatic, economic, and military options after the Suez Canal Company was nationalized.

Role range: 1956-1956

London Rejects Canal Takeover After Funding Dispute

Anthony Eden opposed the nationalization move that followed the collapse of the earlier British and American High Dam financing offer.

Role range: 1955-1958

British Planning Weighs Military Contingencies

Anthony Eden's government explored military preparations while publicly seeking an international response to the nationalization.

Role range: 1956-1956

British Cabinet Considers Multinational Canal Talks

Anthony Eden's government considered international conference proposals as it sought allies for a response to Egypt's new canal administration.

Role range: 1956-1956

House of Commons Debate

Defends a firm British response to Nasser during the first major Commons debate after nationalization

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

Cabinet Considers International Canal Control Plan

Anthony Eden sought support for arrangements that would reduce unilateral Egyptian control over the canal's operations.

Role range: 1956-1957

Cabinet Links Canal Dispute to Regional Security

Anthony Eden treated the nationalization as a wider strategic challenge to British influence and security interests in the Middle East.

Role range: 1956-1956

Canal Dispute Threatens British Currency Stability

Anthony Eden faced growing concerns that prolonged confrontation with Egypt could weaken confidence in sterling and strain national reserves.

Role range: 1956-1957

British Leaders Seek Allies for Canal Settlement

Anthony Eden sought backing from other governments for an international response rather than relying solely on bilateral British objections.

Role range: 1956-1956

1st Nuclear Power Station

the first nuclear power generated in Britain is produced in Calder Hall

Nuclear Power

the first nuclear power generated in Britain is produced in Calder Hall

Role range: 1955-1957

Cabinet Reassesses Failed London Conference

Anthony Eden reviewed the failure to obtain Egyptian acceptance of a multinational operating formula following the London negotiations.

Role range: 1956-1957

Sovereignty Dispute

Rejects Nasser's nationalization as a threat to international control and British interests in the canal.

Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957

Suez Canal Users Association

Backs plans for a users association to challenge Egyptian control of canal operations

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

Eden Publicly Advances Users Association Concept

Anthony Eden proposed organizing canal users to protect freedom of navigation after talks with Egypt failed to produce an agreed operating framework.

Role range: 1956-1956

Britain Backs Voluntary Maritime Users Body

Anthony Eden explained to Parliament that Britain supported an association of canal users to coordinate shipping interests and seek practical cooperation with Egypt.

Role range: 1956-1956

Association Proposed to Supply Canal Pilots

Anthony Eden outlined a plan for a users association that could provide qualified pilots to guide member vessels through the canal.

Role range: 1956-1956

Canal Toll Payments Redirected in Proposal

Anthony Eden described arrangements under which member ships would pay tolls to the association, with appropriate payment made to Egypt for its services.

Role range: 1956-1956

Canal Pilots Crisis Reviewed

Eden reviews contingency plans as foreign canal pilots prepare to leave Egyptian service.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

British Leaders Test Support Among Canal Users

Anthony Eden's government worked to gain wider acceptance of the proposed users association before the second London meeting.

Role range: 1956-1956

Prime Minister Searches for Wider Political Backing

Anthony Eden sought to maintain party and Cabinet cohesion while a second London conference discussed the canal users proposal.

Role range: 1956-1957

British Government Weighs Limits of Association Plan

Anthony Eden's government considered whether voluntary cooperation by canal users would exert enough influence over Egyptian canal policy.

Role range: 1956-1956

Security Council

Submits the Suez dispute to the United Nations Security Council

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

Suez Canal

Submits the Suez dispute to the United Nations Security Council

Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957

Military Planning

Authorises military planning with France for intervention against Egypt

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

Ministers Assess Security Council Six Principles

Anthony Eden's government evaluated the UN principles as disagreement remained over how canal operation would be organized.

Role range: 1956-1957

Chequers Meeting

Meets senior ministers as British policy moves closer to coordinated action with France and Israel

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

Calder Hall

Opens Calder Hall, promoted as the world's first full-scale nuclear power station

Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1957

Calder Hall

Calder Hall opens as a British nuclear power station.

Role range: 1955-1957

Secret Intervention Planning Bypasses Broader Debate

The Prime Minister pursued secret coordination with France and Israel without disclosing the full arrangement to the entire British Cabinet.

Role range: 1956-1957

Eden Weighs French Proposal for Joint Action

Anthony Eden discussed the French proposal for an Anglo-French response following an Israeli advance, while keeping the contacts closely restricted.

Role range: 1956-1956

Suez Collusion

Britain, France and Israel secretly agree the sequence of Israeli invasion, ultimatum and Anglo-French intervention

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

Sevres Collusion

Secretly agrees with France and Israel on the sequence leading to intervention in Egypt

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

Secret Sevres Plan Anticipates Intervention Demand

Anthony Eden's government participated in a secret arrangement under which an Israeli attack would be followed by Anglo French demands for separation.

Role range: 1956-1957

Sevres Arrangement Approved

Eden approves implementation of the secret arrangement reached with France and Israel.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957

British Leadership Faces Protocol Documentation Question

Anthony Eden's circle considered the sensitivity of the written Sèvres arrangements, which could expose prior coordination with Israel if disclosed.

Role range: 1956-1956

Israeli Invasion

Uses Israel's invasion of Sinai as the trigger for the planned Anglo-French ultimatum

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1957