Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-04

the ships that transit the canal
and it must ORGANIZE and direct
the two-way shipping. so that
through this crowded waterway
there will be the most rapid
possible movement of ships with
out danger of collision. This is
a highly complicated business,
for the canal is over 100 miles
long and for much of the way
vessels cannot safely pass each
other.
Here are some interesting
facts:
In 1855. 1866 ships passed
through the canal. They had a
tonnage of over lis million. They
flew the flags of more than 40
different nations. They carried
products of all the world.
There are 1877 pilots from Is
nations; Sc French. 50 British,
80 Egyptian. IA Dutch. IL Nor
wegian, and so on. Two are
Americans.
1t IS, by far, the greatest of
the worlds ocean highways. 1t
has nearly three times the traf-
fic of our Panama Canal.
Spells Out Stand
Now, why did President Nasser
suddenly decide to take over the
operation of the Suez Canal? He
has told us in a long speech. He
did not for a moment suggest
that Egypt would be able to
operate the canal better to as
sure the world the rights pro-
vided~ by the 1888 treaty. The
basic reason he gave was that
this take-over would enhance the
prestige of Egypt. He said that
Egypt was determined ito score
one triumph after another" in
order to enhance its grandeur. "
He coupled his action with his
ambition to extend his influence
from the Atlantic to the Persian
Gulf.
Also, he said that by Selling
the canal company. he was strik-
ing blow at the Western So
called ''imperialists" and he
thought that he could exploit
the canal to produce bigger reve-
nues for Egypt and so retaliate
for the failure of the United
States and Britain to give Egypt
the money to enable Egypt to
get started on the ST billion
Aswan Dam.
President NaSser's speech
makes it clear that his seizure
of the canal company was an
angry act of retaliation against
fancied grievances. No one
reading the speech can doubt
for a moment that the canal.
under Egyptian operation. would
be used, not to carry out the
1888 treaty. but to promote the
political and economic ambitions
OF Egypt-what President Nasser
calls the grandeur" of Egypt.
Now. Of course, the govern
lment of free and independent
country, which Egypt is. should
seek to promote by all proper
means the welfare of its people.
President Nasser has done much
that is good in this respect. But
1t is inadmissible that a water
way, internationalized by treaty
which is required for the liveli-
hood Of a score of nations,
should be exploited by one coun-
try for highly selfish purposes:
and that the operating agency
required to give effect to the
1888 treaty should be struck
down as a national act OF venge-
fulness. To permit this to 60
unchallenged would be to en-
courage breakdown Of the
international fabric upon which
the security and well-being of
all peoples depend.
What Should Be Done?
The question is not whether
something should be done about
this Egyptian act, but what
should be done about It.
There were some epople who
counseled immediate forcible
action by the governments which
felt themselves most directly af-
fected. This. however. would
have been contrary TO the prin-
ciples Of the United Nations
charter and would undoubtedly
have LED 70 widespread violence.
endangering the peace Of the
world.
At London We decided on a DIFF
ferent approach.
We decided 70 call together.