Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-13
Suez Gamble

SueZ Gamble
There is enough ambivalence in Sir
Anthony Eden'S speech, enough language
which seems to move in two directions at
the same time, to mask rather success
fully his ultimate intentions. But one
thing is clear enough. We are about to
take dangerous gamble in the Suez
situation = gamble which, if it fails,
would very probably lead to war or a
humiliating backdown on the part of
the West.
This Isl the outline of things to come:
About 100 of the 146 pilots who guide
ships through the canal are expected to
resign tomorrow. IF this happens the
number of ships that can go through will
be drastically curtailed. These pilots then
will take jobs with the "uSerS association"
described by Sir Anthony-an association
of nations whose shipping uses the canal
Then this association, with its own pilots,
will undertake responsibility for CO.
ordination of shipping through the canal,
and in general will act as a voluntary
association for the exercise of the rights
of the Suez Canal users" The asSocia-
ton will collect its own tolls, and will
make appropriate payment" to Egypt.
If this bold project does not succeed, the
canal users will take such further steps
as seem to be required, either through
the United Nations or by other means,
for the assertion of their rights" To this
undertaking, Britain and France seem
firmly committed. Precisely where we
stand is little uncertain There has
been some webbing at the State Depart
ment, but it appears that this country
also is committed to the project, at least
in its initial stages.
When all of this is boiled down, the
thing which emerges is a decision to try
to force President NasSer's hand. He has
fatty refused to accept the original plan
for international operating control of the
canal. Now it is proposed to create an
international agency to take ships
through the canal-and NasSer can take
it or leave it.
We hope that the architects of this
hazardous venture Git is said to be Secre-
tary Dulles brainchild) know what they
are doing. Presumably, it is hoped that
Mr.. NaSSer will back down in the face of
this show of determination and will per-
NIT the ships of the users association to
go through. At least, it is almost incon-
ceivable that such a project would be
launched by the West unless there were
some basis for expecting it to succeed.
For our part, we hope that basis is not
compounded Of wishful thinking.
We hope also that there has been
adequate and StateSmanlike consideration
OF alternatives. This is going to be very
bitter pill for President Nasser to swallow.
Suppose he refuses to swallow it? What
then?
On this point Mr.. Eden's speech was
tough. He recalled the appeasement Of
Hitler in the 1930s and said: 1--WE have
to prove ourselves wiser this time and
check aggression by the pressure of inter-
national opinion if possible, but if not, by
other means before it has grown to mon
Strous proportions" Mr. Eisenhower
sounded somewhat less firm at his press
conference this week. but he did not rule
out the use of armed force as last resort.
So one now has to assume that war
with Egypt and possibly with the rest of
the Arab world is a definite possibility.
Another possibility is that the West does
not intend to use. force, and will back
down if Mr.. Nasser bars the ships of the
users association. Perhaps we would put
up the money for Europe to get its needed
oil by other means. Z If that happens,
however, there is much merit to OPPOSE
ton Leader Hugh GaitskellS assertion
that Britain (aS well as the other parti-
cipants) have been brought to dilemma
that either we carry out threats of force
or we face the greatest diplomatic climb
down in our history"
Our own feeling is one of deep mis-
giving Shipping has been moving
smoothly through the canal, and Presi-
dent NasSer has pledged himself to keep
it moving at reasonable tolls and without
discrimination. This might have been
possible If the pilots had stayed on the
job. But now the issue has been forced,
and this is no longer possible. The ques-
ton which disturbS us is this: Are we
taking big gamble prematurely?