The world has been on the brink of Nuclear War several times.
The instances that come to mind for most people are the Cuban Missile Crisis or the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Rarely is the Suez Crisis remembered. The Suez Crisis was one of the most strained periods in Cold War history. Political relationships among the West and the Middle East deteriorated rapidly. Many thought that there was no hope for peace. At this crucial moment, Canada stepped up. While being known to demurely follow in Britain’s footsteps, Canada distinguished itself on the world stage by being the prime advocate for peace. Canada was an important mediator in the succession of peace talks that ensued. Lester Pearson, a Canadian diplomat and Statesman played an important role in the de-escalation of the Suez Crisis. Additionally, he proposed the generation of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF). This force was the first significant international effort to resolve the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Middle East.
The Suez Canal is a waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. The Canal is essential for trade by sea for the West and the East. British forces constructed the waterway during their occupation of Egypt in 1869. Enter 1956. Egyptian citizens overthrew the existing monarchy and elected President Gamal Abdel Nasser to leadership. Nasser decided to nationalize the Suez Canal. This distributed ownership of the Canal from British hands into Egyptian hands. As a result, the British economy was threatened. British, French, and Israeli forces invaded Egypt. The situation became more intense as the Soviet Union began backing Egyptian forces. Canadians were worried that a Nuclear War was on the horizon.
The path to peace remained clouded by a nebulous haze. Lester Pearson addressed the UN General Assembly in New York stating, “Peace is far more than ceasing to fire”. An overwhelming majority of countries voted for peace. British and French troops ignored the vote by dropping paratroopers into the Canal Zone. The US and Canada continuously badgered British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden to consent to a cease-fire. On November 6, UN peacekeeping forces organized by Lester Pearson entered the Canal region. Pearson’s diplomatic efforts allowed British and French troops to retreat without losing too much face. Because of his efforts, Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize. Perhaps it was this groundbreaking achievement for Pearson that would lead to his achievement as Canadian Prime Minister in 1963.
