July 26th, 1956
Suez Canal
Paris
Treats Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal as a threat to French strategic and colonial interests.
World History Database / Suez War / Those involved
Guy Mollet
France
Prime Minister of France
19 archival records
July 27th, 1956
Joint Response with Britain Discussed
Paris
Mollet begins intensive discussions with British leaders over diplomatic and military responses to Nasser.
July 28th, 1956
France Consults Britain on Canal Response
Paris
Guy Mollet's government coordinated with Britain over the nationalization and its implications for French interests and regional policy.
August 6th, 1956
French Government Seeks International Canal Safeguards
Paris
Guy Mollet supported efforts to establish international assurances for shipping following Egypt's acquisition of the operating company.
October 1956
Israeli Coordination Intensified
Paris
Mollet's government deepens secret military coordination with Israel as diplomatic settlement appears increasingly unlikely.
October 22nd, 1956
French Prime Minister Hosts Covert Negotiations
Sevres
Guy Mollet received the Israeli leaders and helped open discussions on a coordinated response to the Suez crisis outside normal public diplomatic channels.
October 22nd, 1956
Protocol of Sevres
Sevres
Takes part in the secret Sevres negotiations with Britain and Israel over joint action against Egypt.
October 24th, 1956
French Cabinet Strategy Links Sinai to Canal
London
Guy Mollet's government coordinated its intended canal intervention with the developing Israeli operation through the secret Sevres agreement.
October 24th, 1956
Temporary Canal Occupation Written Into Agreement
Sevres
Guy Mollet's government supported language calling for Anglo-French control of key canal positions under the stated aim of protecting international passage.
October 30th, 1956
Paris Endorses Temporary Canal Occupation Claim
London
Guy Mollet's government presented the proposed occupation of canal positions as necessary to protect shipping amid the fighting.
October 31st, 1956
France Orders Military Stage After Rejection
London
Guy Mollet's government moved from diplomatic warning to armed intervention following Egypt's refusal to comply with the ultimatum.
November 3rd, 1956
French Government Confronts Canal Blockade
Suez Canal
Guy Mollet's government faced a waterway rendered unusable by wartime obstruction despite intervention being justified in part by navigation concerns.
November 5th, 1956
French Suez Policy Faces Hungarian Contradiction
United Nations
Guy Mollet's intervention in Egypt attracted criticism while Soviet military operations in Hungary raised broader questions about foreign force.
November 6th, 1956
Ceasefire
Paris
Accepts a ceasefire under intense American, Soviet, and United Nations pressure.
November 6th, 1956
French Leadership Accepts Military Halt
United Nations
Guy Mollet's government agreed with Britain to cease hostilities despite objections to ending the operation prematurely.
November 6th, 1956
Military Advance Halted
Paris
Mollet accepts the halt to French military operations despite dissatisfaction with the early ceasefire.
November 6th, 1956
Ultimatum Strategy Ends With Forced Ceasefire
London
Guy Mollet's government accepted a ceasefire before the Anglo French armies could seize the canal, ending the military strategy built around the ultimatum.
November 7th, 1956
French Forces Remain in Northern Occupation Zone
Port Said
Although offensive operations had stopped, French troops continued holding positions around Port Said pending withdrawal arrangements.
December 3rd, 1956
French Government Commits to Withdrawal Schedule
United Nations
France accepted arrangements for evacuating its forces from Egypt after international pressure sustained the ceasefire.