What can you learn form Source A about Anthony Eden's reasons for opposing Colonel Nasser?

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Rob Abdur                                                                                                                            The Suez Crisis                      

                     

1.  Study Source A

What can you learn form Source A about Anthony Eden’s reasons for opposing Colonel Nasser?

Sir Anthony Eden most certainly thought badly of Colonel Nasser. First of all the canal was “not vital to Egypt” in Eden’s opinion. He thought Nasser was selfish and we know this because he says, “Nasser has seized it for his own ends”. He also had to oppose Nasser if he truly thought that Britain’s, “oil, machinery and much of our transport would grind to a halt”. He wanted to expose all the reasons that might favour his idea to oppose Nasser and go to war. He also tries to make out that Nasser is inconsiderate by saying, “Nasser has taken over an international company without consultation and without our consent”.

Then Eden says, “Our quarrel is not with Egypt, it is with Colonel Nasser”. Here he is giving an impression to the people of himself. This I think shows the British people that it is just a war against the colonel and not the people of Egypt. So it is different to the war that had recently ended which was the Second World War.        

When Eden says, “instead of meeting we with friendship colonel Nasser conducted a vicious propaganda campaign against this country”, he is telling his people that he wanted a peaceful option to resolving the problem but Nasser made this impossible due to his campaign against them. Also by saying “vicious propaganda,” it said that Nasser hated Britain but this cannot be backed up with anything. Finally he says, “This is how dictatorships behave, and we all remember the costs of giving into Hitler.” Here he is saying that like in World War 2 appeasement was not the answer and so should not be used as a tactic in this case. At this time it could be presumed the British wanted peace, because of the recent events and their outcomes. Eden says what he had to, to make the people believe in his plan unless they wanted a repeat of World War 2.

2.  Study Sources B and C

     How useful are these sources as evidence of Egyptian public opinion during the Suez Crisis?

In Source B I think overall it gives a sense that Nasser had the favour of his country. I believe this is so, because first of all he is smiling and his arms are raised which tells us he is happy and he might be celebrating something. Also he is above everybody so I am guessing he is on some people’s shoulders. This maybe interpreted as an act of approval from the Egyptian people. Finally all the people around him are taking their hats off to him which is a sign of respect to Colonel Nasser. What I have said so far is the usefulness of this source but some things make this source unreliable. First of all the crowd is not very big and so this may only be the few supporters he has. Also the picture is not very clear and due to this we cannot see what is written on the banner to the right of the picture. Finally, this picture may not have been from the date stated and this is because it could be used as propaganda to bring the morale down of the British people. The Egyptian people around him seem to be very supportive and encouraging. Source C is obviously a mockery of Eden. He is trying to threaten an Egyptian sailor who possibly may be Nasser. Eden says, “If you don’t give it back, I’ll shoot, “this statement does not distinguish who he will shoot but the picture shows that he will shoot himself. This is expressing the point that Eden has no control of the situation and that he cannot do anything about it. The Egyptian sailor looks very happy and the smile tells us he has no care in the world. I think the way he is sitting also shows how calm and relaxed he is even though Eden is about to shoot himself.

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Eden’s body language shows quite a different feeling to the sailor. Not only does he have a gun to his head, his facial expression shows great anxiety and discomfort and finally he has one leg in the air. This is obviously a humorous source but I believe it demonstrates much truth. To consider to opposite side this source does have its limitations. First of all the newspaper it was published in, is not named and as Source B could be a part of Nasser’s vicious propaganda campaign. Another similarity the two sources show is that Nasser is most definitely ...

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