Selwyn Lloyd Biography and Timeline

Foreign Secretary of Great Britain

Appointed Foreign Minister

Role range: 1955-1957 – 1955-1960

British Financing Withdrawal

Britain withdraws its proposed High Dam contribution after the American decision.

Role range: 1955-1960

British Financial Participation Withdrawn

Britain withdrew its proposed financial support for the High Dam following the American decision.

Foreign Office Begins Diplomatic Canal Response

Selwyn Lloyd's ministry began considering how Britain could coordinate international opposition to Egypt's unilateral takeover of the company.

Role range: 1956-1956

Canal Nationalization

Begins diplomatic work to build an international response to Egypt's seizure of the canal company

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1960

Foreign Secretary Briefs Cabinet on Canal Dispute

Selwyn Lloyd advised ministers on the diplomatic implications of nationalization and prospects for gaining international backing.

Role range: 1956-1957

Three-Power London Consultations Begin

Lloyd opens consultations with French and American representatives on a coordinated response to nationalisation.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1960

British Officials Develop International Conference Proposal

Selwyn Lloyd helped prepare talks involving states that depended upon the canal for maritime trade and strategic access.

Role range: 1956-1956

London Conference Invitations Prepared

Selwyn Lloyd's government made preparations for a conference of states concerned with keeping the Suez Canal open to international shipping.

Role range: 1956-1956

Britain Discusses Compensation and Transit Proposals

Selwyn Lloyd's officials weighed shareholder compensation alongside arrangements for nondiscriminatory transit through the canal.

Role range: 1956-1956

Cabinet Reviews Conference Strategy Before London Talks

Selwyn Lloyd prepared ministers for multilateral negotiations intended to secure international arrangements for the canal.

Role range: 1956-1957

London Conference

Hosts delegations seeking an international system for canal management after nationalization

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1960

London Conference

Opens diplomatic efforts at the London Conference after the canal nationalization

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1960

First London Suez Conference Opens

Selwyn Lloyd opened the international conference on the canal's future, bringing together delegations from twenty two invited states.

Role range: 1956-1956

Nationalization Dispute Reaches London Conference

Selwyn Lloyd brought the dispute over Egypt's canal takeover into a multilateral meeting of states concerned with its future operation.

Role range: 1956-1956

British Delegation Advocates International Guarantees

Selwyn Lloyd backed proposals seeking enforceable assurances that shipping from all countries could use the canal without discrimination.

Role range: 1956-1956

Conference Debates Negotiation Versus Imposition

Selwyn Lloyd faced divisions among participating states over whether a canal arrangement could be established without Egyptian consent.

Role range: 1956-1956

London Conference Closes Without Full Consensus

Selwyn Lloyd concluded the first London meeting without unanimous agreement, as the majority and minority approaches remained divided.

Role range: 1956-1956

Ministers Evaluate Mission to President Nasser

Selwyn Lloyd's diplomacy supported an attempt to present agreed conference proposals to Egypt before the government considered escalation.

Role range: 1956-1957

Second London Conference Attended

Lloyd joins renewed talks on the canal and the proposed users association.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1960

Second London Conference Opens Users Association Debate

Selwyn Lloyd took part in renewed talks among countries supporting the eighteen-power canal proposals, with the association among the main subjects under discussion.

Role range: 1956-1956

Second London Conference Reopens Canal Talks

Selwyn Lloyd reconvened representatives of the eighteen governments to consider the failed Cairo mission and the proposed canal users association.

Role range: 1956-1956

Second London Meeting Reviews Committee Failure

Selwyn Lloyd hosted renewed discussion among supporters of the eighteen-power plan following the five-nation committee's unsuccessful visit to Egypt.

Role range: 1956-1956

Conference Discusses Association Legal Foundations

Selwyn Lloyd convened discussion of the legal and operational basis for a canal users body at the second London conference.

Role range: 1956-1956

Delegates Examine Risks of Competing Canal Authorities

Selwyn Lloyd confronted concerns that the proposed users association might be seen as a rival to Egypt's nationalized canal authority.

Role range: 1956-1956

Second London Conference Issues Final Statement

Selwyn Lloyd's conference issued a statement maintaining the validity of the earlier eighteen-power proposal after Egypt declined to accept it.

Role range: 1956-1956

Second London Conference Reaffirms Negotiation Proposal

Selwyn Lloyd's meeting ended with a statement maintaining that the eighteen-power plan remained a fair basis for a peaceful canal settlement.

Role range: 1956-1956

Security Council

Takes the Suez dispute to the United Nations Security Council after diplomatic proposals fail

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1960

Britain Requests Council Examination of Canal Dispute

Britain sought Security Council discussion of the canal dispute after negotiations with Egypt failed to establish a mutually accepted operating arrangement.

Role range: 1956-1957

British Diplomacy Moves Users Dispute Toward UN

Selwyn Lloyd's government pursued Security Council consideration of the Suez dispute after the users association approach failed to settle the issue.

Role range: 1956-1956

Cabinet Reviews Security Council Canal Diplomacy

Selwyn Lloyd focused on an international negotiated solution as the United Nations began further consideration of the dispute.

Role range: 1956-1957

Britain Considers Common Settlement Formula

Selwyn Lloyd took part in discussions aimed at developing principles that could reconcile freedom of passage with Egypt's legal position.

Role range: 1956-1956

British Delegation Explores Common Canal Conditions

Selwyn Lloyd participated in diplomatic efforts to define requirements for a negotiated canal settlement rather than pursue an immediate military solution.

Role range: 1956-1957

Free Navigation Requirement Enters Diplomatic Formula

Selwyn Lloyd participated in talks that produced a principle guaranteeing free passage through the canal without overt or covert discrimination.

Role range: 1956-1956

Arbitration Proposed for Compensation Disputes

Selwyn Lloyd joined negotiations leading to an arbitration principle for unresolved disputes between Egypt and the former Suez Canal Company.

Role range: 1956-1956

Six Principles Negotiated at UN

Lloyd accepts six Security Council principles as a basis for negotiations on canal operation.

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1960

Six Principles

Accepts the Security Council's six principles for a negotiated canal settlement

Role range: 1956-1956 – 1955-1960

British Delegation Submits Six Point Framework

Selwyn Lloyd's government cosponsored a Security Council measure setting out six conditions for a negotiated solution to the canal dispute.

Role range: 1956-1956

Nondiscriminatory Passage Becomes Council Requirement

Selwyn Lloyd's diplomatic effort resulted in a Security Council resolution requiring free and open canal transit without technical or political discrimination.

Role range: 1956-1956

Compensation Arbitration Included in Council Text

Selwyn Lloyd's government supported a clause providing arbitration for outstanding financial disputes between the Suez Canal Company and Egypt.

Role range: 1956-1956