Australia Supports Multinational Negotiating Framework
Robert Menzies represented Australia's interest in a navigable canal and joined deliberations over an international operating arrangement.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in Australia
Explore 26 historical events and records for Australia in 1956.
Historical records for Australia in 1956
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 26 of 26 unique records.
26Unique records
1 of 1Page
26Named events on this page
3Named people on this page
3Places on this page
August
London Conference Delegation Led
Menzies leads Australia's delegation to the London conference considering the future operation of the canal.
Conference Considers Interests of Canal Customers
Robert Menzies joined negotiations balancing shipping nations' interest in reliable passage against Egypt's claims of sovereign control.
Five Nation Mission Proposal Takes Shape
Robert Menzies emerged as the proposed chairman of a group tasked with explaining the majority proposal directly to President Nasser.
Menzies Proposed to Lead Canal Delegation
Robert Menzies emerged as the proposed chairman of the multinational mission tasked with presenting the London canal plan to Egypt.
Eighteen Governments Authorize Five Nation Mission
Robert Menzies was appointed to chair a delegation acting for eighteen states that supported the London Conference's majority proposals.
Five-Nation Committee Selected
Menzies is chosen to lead a five-nation committee carrying the London proposals to Nasser.
Menzies Appointed Chairman of Cairo Mission
Robert Menzies was chosen to head a five-country committee representing the eighteen governments that supported the majority proposal.
Committee Mandate Limits Mission to Explanation
Robert Menzies's committee was authorized to present and clarify the majority proposals rather than negotiate an entirely new settlement.
Delegation Requests Meeting With President Nasser
Robert Menzies formally sought a meeting with Gamal Abdel Nasser to explain the eighteen-power conference proposal.
Committee Organizes Presentation of Canal Plan
Robert Menzies arranged for the delegation to explain international operating proposals while testing Egypt's readiness for negotiation.
Mission Prepares Formal Approach to Nasser
Robert Menzies arranged the diplomatic presentation of the eighteen-government proposal before travelling to Cairo for discussions.
September
Committee Arrives for Egyptian Consultations
Robert Menzies and the other delegates prepared for direct exchanges with Egyptian officials about the London Conference settlement plan.
Cairo Meetings Begin With President Nasser
Robert Menzies led the five-nation committee in meetings with Gamal Abdel Nasser about the future administration of the Suez Canal.
Cairo Mission Opens
Menzies begins talks with Nasser on proposals for international management of the canal.
Menzies Committee Begins Cairo Negotiations
Robert Menzies presented the international canal administration proposal to Egyptian leaders in talks following the London Conference.
Committee Encounters Fundamental Differences With Egypt
Robert Menzies concluded that major disagreements remained over the scope of Egyptian authority and international canal administration.
Menzies Sends Written Summary to Nasser
Robert Menzies set out the eighteen-power proposals in writing and described the underlying differences revealed during the talks.
Menzies Sets Out Eighteen Power Case
Robert Menzies summarized the objectives of the eighteen-country proposal and the differences that had emerged in talks with Egypt.
Cairo Mission Fails
Menzies leaves Cairo without agreement after Nasser rejects international control of the canal.
Menzies Mission Ends Without Canal Agreement
Robert Menzies's committee concluded its discussions without obtaining Egypt's agreement to the eighteen-government framework.
Menzies Mission Returns Without Agreement
Robert Menzies and his committee returned after failing to secure Egyptian acceptance of the London Conference plan.
British Parliament Reviews Five Nation Mission
Robert Menzies's unsuccessful Cairo discussions became a subject of British parliamentary debate about the next diplomatic steps.
Menzies Reports Failed Cairo Negotiations
Robert Menzies explained the outcome of his mission to Egypt, giving the participating states a basis for discussing whether a users association could move the dispute forward.
Other events (month unknown)
Deputy Party Leader
Appointed Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
Olympics
Helps bring the Olympic games to Melbourne
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.