Suez+Canal

Suez Canal The Suez Canal was opened on November 16, 1869. This was the first canal built connecting the Red Sea to the Meditteranean Sea. The Suez canal was also the first canal used for both travel and trade. This canal is said to be the shortest link between the east and the west.

The British had control of the canal. The Egyptian continuouly tried to take complete control of the canal. Many British conservatives, such as Winston Churchill, thought that Great Britain had a rightful position in the canal zone. The British spoekesman of the Conservative party claimed that the Suez Canal was a very important lifeline for Britain. International security was said to be threatened if British control was taken away.

In 1936, the Anglo- Egyptian Treaty allowed Britian to have a defensive force along the Suez Canal zone. Egypt nationalized the canal on July 26,1956.