36. Editorial Note
In fall 1956, the NATO Allies expressed in the North Atlantic Council their concern for the crises which arose as a result of Egypt’s nationalization of the Suez Canal on July 26 and of the Hungarian uprising which began at the end of October. At the request of the United Kingdom, the situation at Suez was discussed for the first time at the North Atlantic Council on September 5. (Polto 462 from Paris, September 5; Department of State, Central Files, 740.5/9–556) On October 27, Secretary General Ismay called a special private meeting of the Council to discuss the situation in Hungary (Polto 928 from Paris, October 27; ibid., 740.5/10–2756) and on October 30, the Council discussed both crises (Polto 947 from Paris, October 30; ibid., 740.5/10–3056). At the Council meeting on November 1, the Secretary General appealed for unity within the NATO Allies and expressed his concern for the existing rancor against Great Britain and France over Suez. (Polto 975 from Paris, November 1; ibid., 740.5/11–156) At the October 31 meeting, there was support for the United States position that the Suez Canal problem should have been dealt with in the United Nations (Polto 960 from Paris, October 31; ibid., 740.5/10–3156) and at the Council meetings in November, the representatives in general favored a United Nations resolution to both crises. Discussion of these crises continued at the North Atlantic Council Ministerial meeting in December.