Canada Proposes International Separation Force
Lester Pearson advanced the concept of a neutral United Nations force that could help supervise a ceasefire and separate opposing armies.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in Canada
Explore 33 historical events and records for Canada in 1956.
Historical records for Canada in 1956
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 33 of 33 unique records.
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November
Canadian Proposal Offers Ceasefire Monitoring Alternative
Lester Pearson advocated an international force that could separate combatants and make an agreed cessation of hostilities workable.
Emergency Force Concept Advanced at UN
Pearson advances the proposal for an international emergency force to supervise a ceasefire and separation.
UNEF
Proposes a United Nations Emergency Force to separate the opposing forces in the Suez crisis.
Canadian Peacekeeping Initiative Secures International Backing
Lester Pearson's plan gained support as an alternative to continued Anglo French occupation of Egyptian territory.
Canadian General Takes UNEF Command
E L M Burns assumed leadership of the newly organized United Nations Emergency Force as planning moved toward deployment.
International Force Commander Named for Ceasefire Mission
E L M Burns was chosen to lead the emergency peacekeeping operation envisaged by the United Nations.
UNEF Command Accepted
Burns is selected to command the newly created United Nations Emergency Force.
Canadian Diplomacy Promotes Durable Truce Supervision
Lester Pearson's peacekeeping proposal provided a way to supervise the cessation of hostilities after the invasion.
UNEF Staff Prepares Initial Egyptian Deployment
E L M Burns's staff coordinated personnel and logistical planning for the first peacekeeping units to enter Egypt.
UNEF Headquarters Prepares Truce Observation Network
E L M Burns organized personnel and communications for the new force to monitor ceasefire arrangements.
First Peacekeepers Reach Egyptian Airfield
The initial UNEF elements arrived in the Abu Suweir area and began the international deployment designed to support the ceasefire.
Initial International Contingents Arrive in Egypt
UNEF advance personnel entered Egypt to prepare for separating forces and overseeing compliance with the ceasefire.
Peacekeepers Arrive in Egypt Before Port Deployment
E L M Burns organized the force that would eventually supervise the military transition around Port Said.
UNEF Deployment Begins
Burns begins deploying UNEF contingents into Egypt to supervise the ceasefire and withdrawals.
Peacekeepers Begin Supervising Port Said Lines
UNEF units entered Port Said to help reduce clashes and support the eventual withdrawal of occupying forces.
Peacekeepers Enter Occupied Port Said
Under E L M Burns's command, units of the emergency force entered Port Said during preparations to replace British and French troops.
UN Troops Move into Port Said
Burns supervises UNEF elements entering Port Said and taking positions between opposing forces.
UNEF Troops Enter Port Said City
International peacekeepers began taking positions in Port Said as negotiations continued over the departure of the occupying forces.
Peacekeeping Facilitates Prospects for Canal Repairs
The deployment of a neutral international force helped create conditions in which salvage could be contemplated after withdrawal.
UNEF Expands Operations Across Canal
The emergency force extended positions to the east side of the Suez Canal while seeking to separate opposing troops.
Suez Crisis
Proposes a United Nations peacekeeping force during the Suez crisis.
December
UNEF Expands Supervision Around Occupied Districts
Peacekeeping elements assumed more duties in the city as the withdrawal timetable progressed.
Peacekeeping Positions Expand as Allies Prepare Exit
UNEF elements moved into arrangements designed to maintain separation while occupying armies departed the canal area.
UNEF Supervises Transfer of Occupied Positions
Peacekeepers monitored the handover of positions as British and French forces prepared to leave the Port Said area.
UNEF Prepares Final Transfer of Positions
Peacekeepers arranged to occupy positions vacated by Allied forces and reduce the risk of new clashes.
Allied Withdrawal Improves Access for Clearance Teams
The removal of Anglo French forces from Port Said made it easier for civilian and international teams to work in the canal zone.
Other events (month unknown)
first book of poetry, Let Us Compare Mythologies
Cohen publishes his first book of poetry, Let Us Compare Mythologies
Foreign Secretary of Canada
Represents Canada at the United Nations, plays a key part in settling the Suez crisis
his
Cohen publishes his first book of poetry, Let Us Compare Mythologies
Suez Canal
Represents Canada at the United Nations, plays a key part in settling the Suez crisis
Suez Crisis
Helps create a United Nations peacekeeping force during the Suez crisis.
True Triple-Axis Spectrometer
Completes the first true triple-axis crystal spectrometer for neutron scattering.
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.