Death of Irene Joliot-Curie
Dies after illness linked to radiation exposure.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in France
Explore 132 historical events and records for France in 1956.
Historical records for France in 1956
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 132 unique records.
132Unique records
1 of 4Page
35Named events on this page
7Named people on this page
7Places on this page
March
Independence of France
Tunisia & Morocco are granted independence
Independence of Tunisia and Morocco
Tunisia & Morocco are granted independence
April
Spaak Report Negotiations
Pineau represented France as negotiations moved from the Spaak Report toward treaties for a common market and atomic-energy community.
May
Spaak Report Approval
Supports further negotiations after ministers approve the Spaak Report at Venice.
Treaty of Rome
Faure joins Pineau at Venice as France supports opening formal negotiations on the common market and Euratom.
Treaty of Rome
Pineau chairs the Venice Conference as the Six accept the Spaak Report as the basis for drafting new treaties.
Venice Conference
Pineau took part in ministerial talks that advanced negotiations for the European Economic Community and Euratom.
June
Treaty of Rome
Faure takes charge of France's negotiating team at the Brussels launch of the Common Market and Euratom conference.
July
Suez Canal
Treats Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal as a threat to French strategic and colonial interests.
Joint Response with Britain Discussed
Mollet begins intensive discussions with British leaders over diplomatic and military responses to Nasser.
France Consults Britain on Canal Response
Guy Mollet's government coordinated with Britain over the nationalization and its implications for French interests and regional policy.
International Control Proposal Backed
Pineau supports proposals intended to place canal operations under an international system.
Val Duchesse Negotiations
Represents French European interests during negotiations leading to the Treaties of Rome.
August
Meeting with British and American representatives
Meets British and American representatives after the canal nationalization to discuss an international response.
French Government Seeks International Canal Safeguards
Guy Mollet supported efforts to establish international assurances for shipping following Egypt's acquisition of the operating company.
Sovereignty Dispute
Aligns with Britain against Nasser's control of the canal after nationalization.
September
France Joins Formal Request for Council Debate
French diplomacy joined Britain's request for the Security Council to consider Egypt's unilateral nationalization and the unresolved canal management controversy.
Treaty of Rome
Faure leads the French negotiating delegation as disagreements over agriculture, overseas territories and safeguards are worked through.
October
France Joins Canal Settlement Exploratory Talks
Christian Pineau participated in consultations on an internationally acceptable canal settlement during the Security Council debate.
France Discusses Safeguards for Canal Operations
Christian Pineau took part in the negotiations developing safeguards for passage, tolls and the insulation of canal management from politics.
Political Neutrality Clause Gains Support
Christian Pineau took part in negotiations that included insulating canal operations from the political policies of any individual country.
Canal Operations Insulation Endorsed by Council
Christian Pineau's government supported the unanimous resolution requiring canal management to be insulated from national political interference.
Compensation Arbitration Included in Canal Principles
The Council framework called for arbitration of unresolved compensation disputes between Egypt and the former Suez Canal Company.
French Delegation Introduces Settlement Resolution
Christian Pineau's government worked with Britain to put the six agreed requirements into a Security Council draft resolution.
Coup
Meets Ben-Gurion to discuss the invasion of Egypt in order to overthrow Nasser
French Defence Minister Reviews Operational Timing
Maurice Bourges-Maunoury discussed military coordination with Israeli representatives as French leaders attempted to align the partners' timetables.
French Diplomats Outline Canal Intervention Scenario
Christian Pineau participated in negotiations linking an Israeli offensive in Sinai to a later Anglo-French intervention near the canal.
French General Advises Tripartite Military Planning
Maurice Challe contributed military planning advice during the secret discussions on the proposed intervention against Egypt.
French Prime Minister Hosts Covert Negotiations
Guy Mollet received the Israeli leaders and helped open discussions on a coordinated response to the Suez crisis outside normal public diplomatic channels.
Israeli Trigger Proposal Supported
Challe supports the concept that an Israeli attack should provide the trigger for Anglo-French intervention.
Meeting with Ben-Gurion to discuss the invasion of Egypt
Meets Ben-Gurion to discuss the invasion of Egypt in order to overthrow Nasser
Protocol of Sevres
Attends the Sevres talks as a senior French military planner in the Anglo-French-Israeli operation.
Protocol of Sevres
Takes part in the secret Sevres negotiations with Britain and Israel over joint action against Egypt.
Pineau Consults Eden in London
Christian Pineau traveled from the Sèvres negotiations to London to discuss the evolving joint plan directly with Anthony Eden and Selwyn Lloyd.
French Cabinet Strategy Links Sinai to Canal
Guy Mollet's government coordinated its intended canal intervention with the developing Israeli operation through the secret Sevres agreement.
French Side Sets October Thirtieth Ultimatum
Christian Pineau accepted the protocol's sequence requiring Britain and France to make separate but simultaneous demands on Egypt and Israel on 30 October.
Military Strikes Scheduled After Egyptian Rejection
Maurice Bourges-Maunoury's government accepted arrangements for Anglo-French operations against Egyptian forces if the ultimatum was rejected.
Pineau Signs Protocol for France
Christian Pineau signed the written Sèvres understanding on behalf of France, documenting the agreed sequence of attacks and demands.
Protocol of Sevres
Signs the secret Protocol of Sevres with Israeli and British representatives.
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.