Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-19


Our meeting here last month
gave rise to solid hope that the
Suez Canal problem could be
settled. Eighteen of us had come
to an agreement. We repre-
scented nations of Europe. Asia.
Africa, Australia and America.
Our shipping constituted over 80
per cent of all the Suez Canal
shipping.
Among us were those whose
patterns of trade showed differ
ing yet important dependence
upon the canal. 1t was no small
achievement that. out of that
diversity, agreement was reached.
That was possible only because
there prevailed among us a spirit
Of Cancellation, and Of urgency,
born out of the gravity of the
situation with which the govern
ment of Egypt had confronted
us. What we agreed upon was
a program to assure permanently
an efficient and dependable
operation, maintenance and de-
velopment of the Suez Canal in
accordance with the treaty Of
1888.
That program was scrupulously
respectful of the sovereignty Of
Egypt. However, as our commits
tee of five has just reported to US,
the government of Egypt un-
qualifedly refused to consider
our proposal as a basis of nego-
tiation. 1t made no counter
proposal.
New Situation Created
This attitude of Egypt has
created a new and difficult situa-
ton.
Exercising the restraint en-
joined by the Charter of the
United Nations, We continue to
SEX. by peaceful means, q solu-
ton of this difheult problem.
Certain things are, I think,
clear,
/. The Convention of 1888 gives
our vessels the right at all times
to pass through the Suez Mari
time Canal as a free End open
waterway.
2. Those rights are jeopardized
by the action of the Egyptian
government in preventing the
Universal Suez Canal Co. from
exercising its agreed functions
and in Egypt itself usurping all
of those functions.
1t is true that, although the
Egyptian government has uni
laterally terminated the conces-
sion to the Universal Suez Canal
Co., which was part Of the sys-
TEN referred to, and established
by the Convention of 1883. it says
that it will nevertheless live up
to the convention itself and as
sure fair and equal operation
of the canal.
1888 Pact Stressed
But the testing issue is whether
the government of Egypt accepts
that the parties to. and bene-
ficiaries Of, the Convention of
1888 may in fact have the IA
cilities needed to assure them
the exercise of their rights.
If the government of Egypt
insists that ships masters be in
the position of supplicants who
can never pass through the canal
except under such conditions as
the government of Egypt may
from time to time impose, then
there is no guarantee of free and
secure passage such as the Con-
vention of 1888 prescribes.
l know that the government
OF Egypt can always. by the use
of force. interrupt traffic through
the Suez Canal, and that there
fore transit must depend upon
Egypt's good faith and good
will. But there are many sane
lions against open and forcible
Interruptions of free passage.
The same is not true if any
government dominates and con-
trolls all phases of operation. The
operation of the Suez Canal is
q highly complicated. intricate
affair. 1t offers infinite posi-
bilitieS of covert violation and
the practice in obscurity Of pref
crences and determinations.
Lack of Efficiency a Hazard
Lack of efficiency can be a
grave hazard. 1t is against risks
of this kind that the users can.
and believe should, protect
themselves in the exercise of
their rights under the 1888
treaty.
The economic well-being of