Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-31
Tragic Day


Middle East are now plain for all to see.
France and Britain, with Israel evil
IDENTIFY serving as kind of decoy, have
resorted to naked force in the old impe-
rialiSt tradition. The concept embodied
in the United Nations OF concerted action
to maintain peace and punish aggression
has been cynically Subverted. The tri-
partite agreement of 1885, which obli-
gated France, Britain and the United
States to aid any victim of aggression
in the Middle East, has been treated by
the French and the British as just an
other scrap of paper.
Instead of adhering to these solemn
obligations, London and Paris have issued
an ultimatum demanding that the fight
Ing in Egypt cease, that the Egyptian
and Israeli forces pull back 10 miles from
the Suez Canal, and that Anglo-F French
troops be permitted to occupy key points
In the canal zone. This would leave the
invading Israeli troops in possession of
all the Egyptian territory they have oc-
cupied and might even advance their
lines, since they have not been reported
as close as 10 miles to the canal It is
inconceivable that Egypt, or any other
nation in its position, would submit to
such demand. And the French and
British must have known this. AS this
was written, no Anglo-French forces had
been reported in the canal zone. But one
can only conclude that the real purpose
Of the ultimatum, presented as plan to
safeguard the canal, was to force capitu-
lation by Egypt or war between Egypt on
the one hand and France and Britain
on the other.
Why have the French and British
done this? They want to regain control
of the Suez Canal, lifeline vital to their
economies. And they want to bring down
the Nasser regime. These are conclusions,
of course. But London and Paris would
hardly have taken this desperate gamble
for smaller stakes.
Will the gamble pay off? Possibly so,
II the French and British, with Israel,
can fight and win quick and easy war.
Certainly not, If the Arab world, with
Russian support, fights to the bitter end,
sabotages the canal and diSruptS the
pipelines. But even if the gamble does
pay of, in an immediate sense, it is our
belief that this venture in power politics
will generate hatred and distrust of
France and Britain which will plague
them for years to come.
What Of the Western alliance? France
and Britain ignored an urgent appeal
from the President to preserve peace.
London and Paris kept Washington in
the dark as to their intentions. Some
officials feel that we were deliberately
misled. And as an unhappy consequence,
the United States is left in the anomalous
position Of lining up with Russia in behalf
of peace against the warlike actions of
our Anglo-French allies. 1t is hardly
an exaggeration to say that the Western
alliance is being shaken to It's founda-
tons.
This business now is in the lap of the
gods. The French and the British have
made their decision and they must work
out their own enthusiastically with
out help Of any kind from the United
States. Even If they win in military
sense they will stand condemned around
the world for the methods that have been
used. And If they lose, if this attempt to
turn back the clock cuts them off from
access to the oil of the Middle East, then
disaster lies ahead for the French, for
the British and for the other nations of
Western Europe which must have oil to
live.
Truly, in the most hopeful view, this
has been tragic moment in history. And
II less hopeful view is justified by the
facts, 1t is distressing even to reflect upon
the possible consequences.