Evening star., 1953-05-02
The Suez Negotiations

Resumption of Anglo-Egyptian negotiations
on the defense and operation of the Suez Canal
opens chapter which may be vitality important
to the Middle East and the position Of the
Western powers in that area.
The 109-mile canal, controlled by an inter-
national syndicate in which the British govern
ment is the dominant single stockholder, is the
busiest saltwater man-made highway in the
world. In 1851, the tonnage passing through the
sand-bordered ditch and its connecting lakes
was almost three times that going through the
Panama Canal. Although the entire waterway
is within Egyptian territory 99-year operat-
ing concession given to the international COM
pany runs until November, 1868. Up until World
War II, at least the canal was considered as
important in wartime strategic sense as it
clearly is in peacetime economic sense. It was
this concept of the canals wartime value that
is largely responsible for the issue today.
When Italian Fascist imperialism under
Mussolini extended itself into Eastern Africa in
the middle 1930s, the Anglo-Egyptian treaty
of 1896 was signed-giving to Britain principal
responsibility for defense of the canal and per-
mitting a British garrison of 10,400 troops in
the canal zone. The treaty was operative during
World War II but negotiations for its revision
and eventual evacuation of British troops-took
place in 1946 and 1947. Breakdown Of the nego-
tiations led finally to unilateral Egyptian abro-
CATION of the pact in 1851 British troops have
remained, however, and this issue-plus the
recently resolved question of the political future
of the Sudan-kept Anglo Egyptian relations at
dangerously strained level.
The changed character of warfare, particu-
larly the development of aerial bombardment,
has materially reduced the strategic value of
the canal without even being attacked, it was
neutralized and relatively idle through much
of World War H. In the opinion of military
authorities, its effective defense against Rus
sian attack, for example, would have to be
staged far in advance of the waterway itself
perhaps in Syria or 1raq. The larger area OF
the Canal Zone, however, has become great
supply base and includes network of airfieldS
that would be invaluable in defense of the
Middle East as a whole, and of the further
resources of the African continent.
Actually, to both Britain and Egypt the
Suez issue has become something much deeper
than either military or an economic problem
It has become political and psychological. To
Egypt the presence Of foreign occupation"
force on its territory is national affront which
was partly responsible for the abdication and
expulsion of Farouk and might threaten con-
tinuance of any government To Britain, sur
render Of its position under pressure would be
considered blow to pride and to prestige.
There is still room however, for agreement
Britain already has agreed in principle to evac-
uation of its troops. Allowance of sufficient
time for orderly withdrawal, understanding on
technical maintenance and operation, and the
creation of some form Of area defense struc-
ture which might be more than paper blue
print constitute the major requirements. Nego-
tiation in good faith could lead to all of these
to the advantage of both principals and Of the
non-Communist world IN general.