1956
Lloyd Confronts United Nations Criticism
New York
The British government faces criticism in international forums after military operations begin in Egypt.
World History Database / Suez War / Those involved
Selwyn Lloyd
Great Britain
Foreign Secretary
73 archival records
1956
Lloyd Consults French Foreign Ministry
London
Lloyd coordinates the British response with French officials concerned about Egyptian canal policy.
1956
Lloyd Discusses International Canal Authority
London
British diplomacy explores proposals for an international framework to supervise canal operations.
1956
Lloyd Explores United States Negotiations
London
Lloyd attempts to reconcile British objectives with American proposals for managing the Suez dispute.
1956
Lloyd Faces Franco British Policy Differences
London
Lloyd helps reconcile allied diplomatic approaches as Paris and London evaluate their options toward Nasser.
1956
Lloyd Negotiates Suez Diplomatic Strategy
London
The foreign secretary manages contacts with other governments during the escalation from nationalization to intervention.
1956
Lloyd Prepares London Conference Agenda
London
Lloyd helps prepare proposals for international discussions on the canal and its future operation.
1956
Lloyd Presents Canal Settlement Proposals
London
Lloyd advocates arrangements intended to protect access and reassure the international users of the waterway.
1956
Lloyd Represents Britain at Security Council
New York
Lloyd engages with United Nations diplomacy as Britain pursues international arguments over the canal dispute.
1956
Lloyd Reviews Nationalization Legal Questions
London
Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd examines the legal and diplomatic implications of the canal company's nationalization.
July 26th, 1956
Foreign Office Begins Diplomatic Canal Response
London
Selwyn Lloyd's ministry began considering how Britain could coordinate international opposition to Egypt's unilateral takeover of the company.
July 27th, 1956
Canal Nationalization
London
Begins diplomatic work to build an international response to Egypt's seizure of the canal company
July 27th, 1956
Foreign Secretary Briefs Cabinet on Canal Dispute
London
Selwyn Lloyd advised ministers on the diplomatic implications of nationalization and prospects for gaining international backing.
July 29th, 1956
Three-Power London Consultations Begin
London
Lloyd opens consultations with French and American representatives on a coordinated response to nationalisation.
August 1st, 1956
British Officials Develop International Conference Proposal
London
Selwyn Lloyd helped prepare talks involving states that depended upon the canal for maritime trade and strategic access.
August 2nd, 1956
London Conference Invitations Prepared
London
Selwyn Lloyd's government made preparations for a conference of states concerned with keeping the Suez Canal open to international shipping.
August 7th, 1956
Britain Discusses Compensation and Transit Proposals
London
Selwyn Lloyd's officials weighed shareholder compensation alongside arrangements for nondiscriminatory transit through the canal.
August 9th, 1956
Cabinet Reviews Conference Strategy Before London Talks
London
Selwyn Lloyd prepared ministers for multilateral negotiations intended to secure international arrangements for the canal.
August 16th, 1956
First London Suez Conference Opens
London
Selwyn Lloyd opened the international conference on the canal's future, bringing together delegations from twenty two invited states.
August 16th, 1956
London Conference
London
Hosts delegations seeking an international system for canal management after nationalization
August 16th, 1956
London Conference
London
Opens diplomatic efforts at the London Conference after the canal nationalization
August 16th, 1956
Nationalization Dispute Reaches London Conference
London
Selwyn Lloyd brought the dispute over Egypt's canal takeover into a multilateral meeting of states concerned with its future operation.
August 18th, 1956
British Delegation Advocates International Guarantees
London
Selwyn Lloyd backed proposals seeking enforceable assurances that shipping from all countries could use the canal without discrimination.
August 21st, 1956
Conference Debates Negotiation Versus Imposition
London
Selwyn Lloyd faced divisions among participating states over whether a canal arrangement could be established without Egyptian consent.
August 23rd, 1956
London Conference Closes Without Full Consensus
London
Selwyn Lloyd concluded the first London meeting without unanimous agreement, as the majority and minority approaches remained divided.
September 5th, 1956
Ministers Evaluate Mission to President Nasser
London
Selwyn Lloyd's diplomacy supported an attempt to present agreed conference proposals to Egypt before the government considered escalation.
September 19th, 1956
Second London Conference Attended
London
Lloyd joins renewed talks on the canal and the proposed users association.
September 19th, 1956
Second London Conference Opens Users Association Debate
London
Selwyn Lloyd took part in renewed talks among countries supporting the eighteen-power canal proposals, with the association among the main subjects under discussion.
September 19th, 1956
Second London Conference Reopens Canal Talks
London
Selwyn Lloyd reconvened representatives of the eighteen governments to consider the failed Cairo mission and the proposed canal users association.
September 19th, 1956
Second London Meeting Reviews Committee Failure
London
Selwyn Lloyd hosted renewed discussion among supporters of the eighteen-power plan following the five-nation committee's unsuccessful visit to Egypt.
September 20th, 1956
Conference Discusses Association Legal Foundations
London
Selwyn Lloyd convened discussion of the legal and operational basis for a canal users body at the second London conference.
September 20th, 1956
Delegates Examine Risks of Competing Canal Authorities
London
Selwyn Lloyd confronted concerns that the proposed users association might be seen as a rival to Egypt's nationalized canal authority.
September 21st, 1956
Second London Conference Issues Final Statement
London
Selwyn Lloyd's conference issued a statement maintaining the validity of the earlier eighteen-power proposal after Egypt declined to accept it.
September 21st, 1956
Second London Conference Reaffirms Negotiation Proposal
London
Selwyn Lloyd's meeting ended with a statement maintaining that the eighteen-power plan remained a fair basis for a peaceful canal settlement.
September 23rd, 1956
Britain Requests Council Examination of Canal Dispute
United Nations
Britain sought Security Council discussion of the canal dispute after negotiations with Egypt failed to establish a mutually accepted operating arrangement.
September 23rd, 1956
Security Council
United Nations
Takes the Suez dispute to the United Nations Security Council after diplomatic proposals fail
September 25th, 1956
British Diplomacy Moves Users Dispute Toward UN
London
Selwyn Lloyd's government pursued Security Council consideration of the Suez dispute after the users association approach failed to settle the issue.
October 5th, 1956
Cabinet Reviews Security Council Canal Diplomacy
London
Selwyn Lloyd focused on an international negotiated solution as the United Nations began further consideration of the dispute.
October 10th, 1956
Britain Considers Common Settlement Formula
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd took part in discussions aimed at developing principles that could reconcile freedom of passage with Egypt's legal position.
October 10th, 1956
British Delegation Explores Common Canal Conditions
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd participated in diplomatic efforts to define requirements for a negotiated canal settlement rather than pursue an immediate military solution.
October 12th, 1956
Arbitration Proposed for Compensation Disputes
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd joined negotiations leading to an arbitration principle for unresolved disputes between Egypt and the former Suez Canal Company.
October 12th, 1956
Free Navigation Requirement Enters Diplomatic Formula
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd participated in talks that produced a principle guaranteeing free passage through the canal without overt or covert discrimination.
October 13th, 1956
Britain Gains Unanimous Endorsement of Free Passage
United Nations
Security Council members agreed that canal transit should be open and nondiscriminatory, a requirement supported by the British delegation.
October 13th, 1956
British Delegation Submits Six Point Framework
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd's government cosponsored a Security Council measure setting out six conditions for a negotiated solution to the canal dispute.
October 13th, 1956
Compensation Arbitration Included in Council Text
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd's government supported a clause providing arbitration for outstanding financial disputes between the Suez Canal Company and Egypt.
October 13th, 1956
Nondiscriminatory Passage Becomes Council Requirement
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd's diplomatic effort resulted in a Security Council resolution requiring free and open canal transit without technical or political discrimination.
October 13th, 1956
Six Principles
United Nations
Accepts the Security Council's six principles for a negotiated canal settlement
October 13th, 1956
Six Principles Negotiated at UN
United Nations
Lloyd accepts six Security Council principles as a basis for negotiations on canal operation.
October 13th, 1956
Users Association Mentioned in Wider UN Proposal
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd's government supported an additional Security Council proposal linking the users association to cooperation with Egyptian canal authorities.
October 14th, 1956
British Diplomacy Weighs Further Negotiations
London
Selwyn Lloyd reviewed the diplomatic position after the Council adopted common principles but failed to agree on an implementing mechanism.
October 22nd, 1956
British Foreign Secretary Joins Secret Meeting
Sevres
Selwyn Lloyd attended discussions with French and Israeli representatives about a possible sequence of military actions against Egypt.
October 22nd, 1956
Protocol of Sevres
Sevres
Participates in secret Sevres discussions before Patrick Dean signs the final protocol for Britain
October 22nd, 1956
Sevres Mission
Sevres
Travels to secret talks with French and Israeli representatives at Sevres
October 23rd, 1956
Lloyd Reviews British Commitment With Pineau
London
Selwyn Lloyd held further consultations with Christian Pineau as the governments sought agreement on the terms and timing of intervention.
October 23rd, 1956
Sevres Terms Reported to Eden
London
Lloyd reports the developing secret agreement with France and Israel to Eden.
October 24th, 1956
Foreign Secretary Handles Secret Sevres Outcome
London
Selwyn Lloyd was involved in discussions connected to the agreement that would precede the Israeli attack and Anglo French ultimatum.
October 29th, 1956
British Foreign Office Prepares Canal Warning
London
Selwyn Lloyd's department prepared diplomatic communications demanding that the armies fighting in Sinai move away from the canal area.
October 30th, 1956
Anglo French Ultimatum Delivered to Egypt
London
Selwyn Lloyd defended an ultimatum demanding a halt to fighting and the withdrawal of Egyptian and Israeli troops from the canal zone, with allied occupation of key positions proposed.
October 30th, 1956
Anglo-French Ultimatum
London
Presents the ultimatum demanding withdrawal from the canal zone and acceptance of Anglo-French occupation
October 30th, 1956
British Diplomacy Opposes Immediate Withdrawal Motion
United Nations
Britain opposed Security Council steps that conflicted with its declared intention to place forces in the canal area after the ultimatum.
October 30th, 1956
British Foreign Secretary Transmits Canal Demands
London
Selwyn Lloyd advanced the joint ultimatum requiring both sides to halt the fighting and accept Anglo French positions near the canal.
October 30th, 1956
Time Limit Set for Ultimatum Acceptance
London
The Anglo French warning gave the parties a short deadline to accept its conditions before the two European governments took military action.
October 30th, 1956
United Nations
United Nations
Defends Britain's ultimatum during international debate over the crisis
October 31st, 1956
Britain Rejects General Assembly Referral Vote
United Nations
Britain opposed Resolution 119, but the procedural measure passed despite British and French negative votes.
October 31st, 1956
British Case Meets Security Council Opposition
London
Selwyn Lloyd's government faced diplomatic criticism as the Security Council debated the ultimatum and ensuing military measures.
October 31st, 1956
Foreign Office Explains Military Action to Allies
London
Selwyn Lloyd's department faced the task of defending the intervention to governments alarmed by the operation.
November 7th, 1956
British Diplomacy Confronts Intervention Backlash
United Nations
Selwyn Lloyd defended the British position while international criticism of the Anglo-French invasion reinforced demands for withdrawal.
November 7th, 1956
Foreign Secretary Defends Ceasefire Reversal
London
Selwyn Lloyd's government had to explain the sudden change from a military drive along the canal to a negotiated end to fighting.
November 9th, 1956
Withdrawal Negotiations
United Nations
Handles negotiations over withdrawal and replacement by United Nations forces
December 1956
Final Withdrawal Timetable Negotiated
United Nations
Lloyd negotiates the final timetable for British and French evacuation from Port Said.
December 1956
Withdrawal
London
Oversees Britain's diplomatic retreat as Anglo-French withdrawal from Egypt is arranged
December 14th, 1956
Collusion Questions
London
Faces questioning over whether Britain had prior knowledge of Israel's attack on Egypt
December 31st, 1956
Diplomatic Aftermath
London
Ends the year managing the diplomatic aftermath of the failed intervention