Page 4 1
Chapter Four
of
THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1959.
SUEZ Randolph Churchill-
-on the crisis before THIS began
ΑΤ
'Keep this picture in mind as you read what I have to disclose,' says Randolph Churchill
For better or for worse whatever the doubts Britain was
T 4.15 on the afternoon of, October 30 the Egyptian and Israeli Ambassadors in London were handed a joint ultimatumn from the British and French Governments.
This called on the Israelis to stop all warlike action forthwith and to withdraw their forces to a distance of 10 miles east of the Canal, It also "requested" the Egyptians to withdraw their forces from the Canal and to accept the temporary accupation of Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez."
The ultimatum expired with- in 12 hours, after which Britain
and France reserved the right
20 "intervene in whatever strength may be necessary."
Yet, as is now known, the reports of Cairo Radio than Dearest Israeli forres were to the information gathered Paratroops dropped cast of the in Tel Aviv. When Sir Anthony Eden, the Milla Pass, who were at that nomen! digging themselves In Prime Minister, addressed the House of Commons. at 4.30 hoearly 40 miles from the banks sold that spearheads of the lack of the Canal.
Ellber through ignoranze,, or
advance were not far from the banks of the Suez Canal and that "in all likelihood there is and other fighting in the very Government
close vicinity of the Canal, per- haps over the Canal."
'Near Suez*
Mr
Later that evening, Selwyn Lloyd added, "The facts as known to us at the present time ure that Israeli forecs are
'Maladroit'
All this made the ultimatum
But 1
when
now committeď.
TODAY I
MOVE INTO
THE VERY
HEART OF
on the grounds of security, the look a pretty maladroit and mis-
continued to give lending piece of work, contradictory and misleading gives the appearance of being D information To the country positively hypocrition!
viewed in the light of later It is known that the British knowledge.
The
French British and litary attaches and French
had issued the were being kept Informed of the Governments
เอ "do all in progress of the Israell advance ultimatum
their power to bring about the throughout the operation.
Cerly cessation of hostilitles," object was 10 Their declared separate the coinbatants.
But somehow British In
with a very few milles of Sue, telligence reports tended to
They are moving towards Suez." pay greater attention to the
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Yet at the very moment that these words were made publle French transport aircraft based un Cyprus were preparing to ake off and drop petrol, am- munition, arid supplies to the hdvancing Israeli Army.
Too late
And this
was
soon to be the
scene at Port Said......
THE CABINET
UPHEAVAL
Despite this the Government It took the Israelis four hours on ell members of the United to accept the ultimatum and Nations to refrain from the use reaffirmed its Intention to take
and Nurser only
to of
from giving further retion unless both sides force ning hours
accepted the reject it. But it was net until military, economic, or Annncini unconditionally
to Israel as long as ecaseire. It was at a two-hour Cabinet 7.30 p.m. on October 31, 15 drones
At the same time Mr Antony
•he_persisted in her aggression. meeting in the morning that Sir hours after the ultimatum had
the Head, the Minister of Defence, informed Anthony had
For the first timo in his expired, that Britain went into colleagues of what he planned action.
history of the United No- was despatched to Cyprus on a to d. Unt:1 then only the Inner Cabinet (Mr Lloyd, Mr Butler, Mr Mucinillan, Lord however, already contributed to right of veto.
Wthe delay in mounting the Sallsbury and Mr Beat) harl
operation and with plantigrade been in the picture.
Now when the Prime Minister folly they had insisted on a six-.
assembled day
rend
out to the
The R.A.F.
Cabinet the terins of the essential
limatum some of his collea- ques were taken aback. They
constitutional
discharge their
responsibilities,
Six days
of
--
Picture by Karsh of Ottawa
ROUND-UP
planners had, tions Britain exercised her 1-hour trip. His object was to GORDON STATUE
an
Outvoted
voled against Britain.
perfectly
Dssurg himself, and also the Cabinet, that the Anglo-French
had becn pians
plan for a paratroop descent on Port Said the following morning and returned home.
concerted. He accepted the final A STATUE of General Gordon which was recently removed from Kartoum by the Sudanese may be put up at Woolwich, the general's birthplace. The council are to discuss whether they should try to secure it. If they do it will probably be placed on a site at Academy Road formerly ecoupled by the Prince Imperial Monument. The statue, which shows General Gordon on a camel, in now stored at a museum awaiting shipment.
Committed
from Arst 1,000l. to 500, and It was extraordinary that Sir General Sir Charles Keightley, WAR-TIME BUS' RETIRES
carry
Paratroops
must
was
be
bombardment
Austraitu did not vote with precursor lo any invasion.
Although hampered Britain on this resolution; she the abstained. And on a subsequent in their operationa by
by Russia political decision which had resolution proposed nd not realised that war was reduced the size of their bomba the Australian delegate actually barely
Just 12 hours before H-Hour 16 hours away. They felt that it was-impossible foulet to 250-the RAF easily- them at such short notice to
Air Anthony Eden was not able to the Allied C.-in-C. in Cyprus, destroyed the Egyption
with him the vole of received a message from London Force in 30 hours.
Australia, But as the British asking him to state what The RAF imposition carried Governinen: had not informed the latest time by which u with a further delay upon an
Mir Menzies in time, the Aus- decision would have to be made operation been over-delayed. But this was tunity to instruct the Australion, airborne janding prove necessary. loyed. But this tralian Premier had no oppor- should a postponement of the not all. The Cabinet W delegate at the Security Council. Keightley records his reply In When one the Ministers encouraged
10 believe that
his despatch. published complained about the short Nasser might be destroyed by
September 1057: "1 Rove the notice at which they had to
hour as 23.00 hours G.M.T., Rid make their decision, the Priine the bombing alone, and that, in a favourite phrase of the R.A.F.,
added that any such postpone- Minister rather grandly said I would not be necessary to
Following the Anglo-French ment would have most serious "A lot of my present colleagues "land the pongas."
veto an emergency vession of
and consequences never served in a War Cabinet.*
This delectable carrot excited the General Council was called avoided at all costs."
This was typical of the fidgety Upon
another the political appetite of Sir at which the veto could not
Anthony Eden, and made him apply. Mr Dulles Introduced a points with which the Prime Cabinot Minister said: think that he might achieve his resolution calling for on time- Binister was always confronting "Well, Primo Minister, wo objective withoul becoming diate ́ceasefire. After a nine- hin commander's . and which didn't know Wo wore of involved in any land operations. hour debate the resolution was made their lives so dificult.
There was a ghastly Meanwhile, as time went by carried by 04 votes to Ave, In
Though Sir Anthony still hack hush. But it was too late to watch on, the diplos dition to France and his doubts about the operation, notic battle for world opinion It was only found possible to oven he could als this stage do anything about it.
seemed to bo going against rully Australia, Israel, and Now vacillate no longer. For better To resign when British troops, Britain and Franca,
Zceland.
bron his oùubis, Britain was committed to the battle was not attack against Egypt became 2 Egypt had accepted the cease now committed,
resolution. thing that any patriolle man known on October 20, Fresident fro
The Israeli-
the could do. And those who dis- Eisenhower instructed Mr Cabot Cabinet considered ilked what had been done only Lodgo, the American repre- following day, asked for clari- had four hours or so before the mentative at the United Nations, neation of some of the polnite
became publie in to ask for an immediate moel- affecting the future, but condi ultimatum which to dissociate themwolves, ing of the Security Council. Uional on those points being
from what
their If they so, wished,
Mr Lodge Insisted on puting cleared up-gave: was being done in their name. to a voto, his resolution calling-coptande.
war,
which
ships, and aircraft were already As toon as news of the Israeli By the evening of November or for worse, whatever may have
SATURDAY The fighting
begins
(CITELLFIRE Corner Ada" has retired after nearly 25 years' service in Kent, This well-known bus began her life as an aristocrata demonstration vehicle for the Daimler company, and
came to Thanet to run in the blue very of the Isle of Thanet one of the first diesel buses. Accompanied by four sisters, Ad Company until she was taken over by the Enst Kent Road Car Company in 1837. Ada gained most of her honours during the wor. She went into action at "Heilare Comer" as a mobile eunteen for the East Kent staff. Bombed out of their headquarters and shelled en-route, bus crews would raise i cheer at tho sight of Ada emerging through the dust and rubble with a welcomo.cup of ten. In 1951, Ada was turned into a tree-cutting vehicle, But the time has now come when this gallant old lady can no longer carry passengers, tea ums or trees. She will end her days by donating her best parts as rerap to a fairground fleet.
YOUTH ADVENTURE CENTRE
BRIGHTON may open an adventure camp fox youngsters run on similar lines to the. Outward Bound centres in Scotland, the Lake District End North Wales. The town's education commilitco has been asked to take preliminary steps to establish it. Ashdown Forest has boen suggested as the best sito, It has scopa far train- ing in tracking, cecois to lakes for canoeing and be within reach' of the rocks al Groombridge for rock-climbing. If such a centro was established, it is estimated that about 500 schoni-tenvers and men)- bors of youth organizations a year could be accommodated for jd- venture courses and 400 secondary school pupils would stand cring craft courses. A suitable house and land, with adaptations:: anch furnishing; would cost about £5,000. The initial cost of oumping equipment would be about 2830, and the annual cost of drean sing and minininining the centre would be spproximately. @ 1,700 1 You,