London Conference Invitations Prepared
Selwyn Lloyd's government made preparations for a conference of states concerned with keeping the Suez Canal open to international shipping.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in Great Britain — Page 2
Explore 627 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1956.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1956
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 627 unique records.
627Unique records
2 of 16Page
39Named events on this page
8Named people on this page
5Places on this page
August
Cabinet Links Canal Dispute to Regional Security
Anthony Eden treated the nationalization as a wider strategic challenge to British influence and security interests in the Middle East.
Britain Discusses Compensation and Transit Proposals
Selwyn Lloyd's officials weighed shareholder compensation alongside arrangements for nondiscriminatory transit through the canal.
Canal Dispute Threatens British Currency Stability
Anthony Eden faced growing concerns that prolonged confrontation with Egypt could weaken confidence in sterling and strain national reserves.
Cabinet Reviews Conference Strategy Before London Talks
Selwyn Lloyd prepared ministers for multilateral negotiations intended to secure international arrangements for the canal.
British Leaders Seek Allies for Canal Settlement
Anthony Eden sought backing from other governments for an international response rather than relying solely on bilateral British objections.
Government Studies Canal Disruption Costs
Harold Macmillan considered the potential effect of a disrupted Suez route on shipping costs and Britain's balance of payments.
Allied Commander Receives Suez Contingency Assignment
Charles Keightley was informed that he would command British and French forces if the two governments decided to intervene militarily over the canal dispute.
Financial Costs Enter Cabinet Suez Discussions
Harold Macmillan and colleagues had to consider the affordability of sustained preparations as the London conference began.
First London Suez Conference Opens
Selwyn Lloyd opened the international conference on the canal's future, bringing together delegations from twenty two invited states.
London Conference
Hosts delegations seeking an international system for canal management after nationalization
London Conference
Opens diplomatic efforts at the London Conference after the canal nationalization
Nationalization Dispute Reaches London Conference
Selwyn Lloyd brought the dispute over Egypt's canal takeover into a multilateral meeting of states concerned with its future operation.
British Delegation Advocates International Guarantees
Selwyn Lloyd backed proposals seeking enforceable assurances that shipping from all countries could use the canal without discrimination.
1st Nuclear Power Station
the first nuclear power generated in Britain is produced in Calder Hall
Death of Bernard William Griffin
Death of Bernard William Griffin, Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
Nuclear Power
the first nuclear power generated in Britain is produced in Calder Hall
Conference Debates Negotiation Versus Imposition
Selwyn Lloyd faced divisions among participating states over whether a canal arrangement could be established without Egyptian consent.
Cabinet Reassesses Failed London Conference
Anthony Eden reviewed the failure to obtain Egyptian acceptance of a multinational operating formula following the London negotiations.
London Conference Closes Without Full Consensus
Selwyn Lloyd concluded the first London meeting without unanimous agreement, as the majority and minority approaches remained divided.
Sovereignty Dispute
Rejects Nasser's nationalization as a threat to international control and British interests in the canal.
September
Land Command Prepares Eastern Mediterranean Forces
Hugh Stockwell worked on the land component of the proposed Anglo-French intervention while troops and equipment were assembled in the eastern Mediterranean.
Reserve Management Becomes Suez Policy Concern
Cameron Cobbold faced the task of defending sterling's exchange rate during a period of mounting uncertainty over British foreign policy.
Ministers Evaluate Mission to President Nasser
Selwyn Lloyd's diplomacy supported an attempt to present agreed conference proposals to Egypt before the government considered escalation.
Treasury Monitors Cost of Military Preparations
British finance officials considered how mobilization and the risk of a longer crisis would place pressure on payments and currency reserves.
Chancellor Considers Financial Cost of Confrontation
Harold Macmillan assessed the risk that a prolonged canal confrontation would reduce market confidence and place pressure on currency reserves.
Association Proposed to Supply Canal Pilots
Anthony Eden outlined a plan for a users association that could provide qualified pilots to guide member vessels through the canal.
Britain Backs Voluntary Maritime Users Body
Anthony Eden explained to Parliament that Britain supported an association of canal users to coordinate shipping interests and seek practical cooperation with Egypt.
Canal Toll Payments Redirected in Proposal
Anthony Eden described arrangements under which member ships would pay tolls to the association, with appropriate payment made to Egypt for its services.
Eden Publicly Advances Users Association Concept
Anthony Eden proposed organizing canal users to protect freedom of navigation after talks with Egypt failed to produce an agreed operating framework.
Suez Canal Users Association
Backs plans for a users association to challenge Egyptian control of canal operations
Canal Pilots Crisis Reviewed
Eden reviews contingency plans as foreign canal pilots prepare to leave Egyptian service.
British Leaders Test Support Among Canal Users
Anthony Eden's government worked to gain wider acceptance of the proposed users association before the second London meeting.
Monckton Reservations Complicate Ministerial Consensus
Walter Monckton's reluctance toward war exposed differences inside the British leadership over the appropriate response to the canal crisis.
Chancellor Opens American Financial Discussions
Harold Macmillan sought to maintain access to American financial support while Anglo American disagreements over Suez deepened.
Prime Minister Searches for Wider Political Backing
Anthony Eden sought to maintain party and Cabinet cohesion while a second London conference discussed the canal users proposal.
Second London Conference Attended
Lloyd joins renewed talks on the canal and the proposed users association.
Second London Conference Opens Users Association Debate
Selwyn Lloyd took part in renewed talks among countries supporting the eighteen-power canal proposals, with the association among the main subjects under discussion.
Second London Conference Reopens Canal Talks
Selwyn Lloyd reconvened representatives of the eighteen governments to consider the failed Cairo mission and the proposed canal users association.
Second London Meeting Reviews Committee Failure
Selwyn Lloyd hosted renewed discussion among supporters of the eighteen-power plan following the five-nation committee's unsuccessful visit to Egypt.
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.