史上今日：July 26
The Suez Canal was attacked by Anglo-French and Israeli forces in October1956
1956: Egypt seizes Suez Canal
England have
Egypt's president, Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser, has announced the
nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company to provide funding for the
construction of the Aswan High Dam.
British and French stockholders who own the Suez Canal Company have reacted
with shock to the news.
In a two-and-a-half hour speech delivered to a mass gathering in
Alexandria, President Nasser said the Nationalisation Law had already been
published in the official gazette.
He said all company assets in Egypt had been frozen and stockholders would
be paid the price of their shares according to today's closing prices on the
Paris Stock Exchange.
Vehement criticism
Twelve Egyptians have been appointed members of a special board which will
manage the newly-nationalised company.
The Suez Canal is a key waterway for world trade and an important source of
revenue for Britain.
The Suez Canal Company, which manages the waterway, is legally Egyptian
but, in 1869 was granted a 99 years' concession.
It was not due to revert to the Egyptian Government until November 16,
1968.
President Nasser, who took control of Egypt following a Coup d'Etat four
years ago, has been implementing a nationalisation programme in the country, and
was vehement in his criticism of the West.
He said 120,000 Egyptians had died building the canal but Egypt was
receiving just a tiny proportion of the company's ?5,000,000 annual
earnings.
President Nasser's decision to nationalise the Suez Canal company comes
following Britain and America's withdrawal of financial assistance towards the
Aswan Dam.
It is understood the USSR agreed last month to provide an unconditional
loan towards the project.
The Labour party could never have expected such a sweeping victory
1945: Churchill loses general election
Artificially 1969:
The The Conservative party has been heavily defeated in the General
Election giving Labour its first ever majority.
Outgoing Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who tendered his resignation
immediately, is succeeded by leader of the Labour party, Clement Attlee.
The landslide victory comes as a major shock to the Conservatives following
Winston Churchill's hugely successful term as Britain's war-time coalition
leader, during which he mobilised and inspired courage in an entire nation.
Out of 627 seats Labour increased its seats from 164 to 393, giving the
party an independent majority of 159 seats over all other parties.
The Conservatives and their allies secured 213 seats, the Liberals 10 and
other parties 11.
Following the announcement of the results this afternoon, Mr Churchill, who
has held the positions of Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and
Minister of Defence continuously since May 10, 1940, went to Buckingham Palace
to hand in his resignation.
Mr Attlee, 62, was welcomed by the King shortly afterwards and asked to
form a new Government.
Throughout the election campaign Mr Churchill had appealed to the country
to give his new National Government - formed after the dissolution of the
Coalition government in May - a good majority.
But the appeal was rejected by the people of Britain, largely, it is
thought, as revenge for pre-war economic misery suffered by many.
In a statement issued from 10 Downing Street tonight Mr Churchill expressed
his "profound gratitude for the unflinching, unswerving support" given to him by
the people of Britain during the war years.
The outgoing prime minister had broken off meetings with the leaders of
America and Russia in Potsdam on Wednesday (July 25) to return to Britain for
the election results.
It was announced tonight that a proclamation giving Japan an ultimatum to
surrender had been signed by Mr Churchill before his departure.
The document, also signed by American President Harry Truman and General
Chiang Kai-shek of China, called for the unconditional surrender of all Japanese
armed forces or the prospect of "prompt and utter destruction."
The new prime minister, Mr Attlee, is expected to return to the three-Power
conference in Berlin to resume diplomatic talks soon.
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