Speech by President Nasser of the United Arab Republic, September 15, 1956
In these decisive days in the history of mankind, these days in which truth
struggles to have itself recognized in international chaos where powers of evil domination
and imperialism have prevailed, Egypt stands firmly to preserve her sovereignty. Your
country stands solidly and staunchly to preserve her dignity against imperialistic schemes
of a number of nations who have uncovered their desires for domination and supremacy.In these days and in such circumstances Egypt has resolved to show the world that when
small nations decide to preserve their sovereignty, they will do that all right and that
when these small nations are fully determined to defend their rights and maintain their
dignity, they will undoubtedly succeed in achieving their ends. . . .
I am speaking in the name of every Egyptian Arab and in the name of all free countries
and of all those who believe in liberty and are ready to defend it. I am speaking in the
name of principles proclaimed by these countries in the Atlantic Charter. But they are now
violating these principles and it has become our lot to shoulder the responsibility of
reaffirming and establishing them anew. . . .
We have tried by all possible means to cooperate with those countries which claim to
assist smaller nations and which promised to collaborate with us but they demanded their
fees in advance. This we refused so they started to fight with us. They said they will pay
toward building the High Dam and then they withdrew their offer and cast doubts on the
Egyptian economy. Are we to declaim [disclaim?] our sovereign right? Egypt insists her
sovereignty must remain intact and refuses to give up any part of that sovereignty for the
sake of money.Egypt nationalized the Egyptian Suez Canal company. When Egypt granted the concession
to de Lesseps it was stated in the concession between the Egyptian Government and the
Egyptian company that the company of the Suez Canal is an Egyptian company subject to
Egyptian authority. Egypt nationalized this Egyptian company and declared freedom of
navigation will be preserved.But the imperialists became angry. Britain and France said Egypt grabbed the Suez Canal
as if it were part of France or Britain. The British Foreign Secretary forgot that only
two years ago he signed an agreement stating the Suez Canal is an integral part of Egypt.Egypt declared she was ready to negotiate. But as soon as negotiations began threats
and intimidations started. . . .
Eden stated in the House of Commons there shall be no discrimination between states
using the canal. We on our part reaffirm that and declare there is no discrimination
between canal users. He also said Egypt shall not be allowed to succeed because that would
spell success for Arab nationalism and would be against their policy, which aims at the
protection of Israel.Today they are speaking of a new association whose main objective would be to rob Egypt
of the canal and deprive her of rightful canal dues. Suggestions made by Eden in the House
of Commons which have been backed by France and the United States are a clear violation of
the 1888 convention, since it is impossible to have two bodies organizing navigation in
the canal. . . .
By stating that by succeeding, Abdel Nasser would weaken Britain : s stand against Arab
nationalism, Eden is in fact admitting his real objective is not Abdel Nasser as such but
rather to defeat Arab nationalism and crush its cause. Eden speaks and finds his own
answer. A month ago he let out the cry that be was after Abdel Nasser. Today the Egyptian
people are fully conscious of their sovereign rights and Arab nationalism is fully
awakened to its new destiny....
Those who attack Egypt will never leave Egypt alive. We shall fight a regular war, a
total war, a guerrilla war. Those who attack Egypt will soon realize they brought disaster
upon themselves. He who attacks Egypt attacks tile whole Arab world. They say in their
papers the -whole thing will be over in forty-eight hours. They do not know how strong we
really are.We believe in international law. But we will never submit. We shall show the world bow
a small country can stand in the face of great powers threatening with armed might. Egypt
might be a small power but she is great inasmuch as she has faith in her power and
convictions. I feel quite certain every Egyptian shares the same convictions as I do and
believes in everything I am stressing now.We shall defend our freedom and independence to the last drop of our blood. This is the
stanch feeling of every Egyptian. The whole Arab nation will stand by us in our common
fight against aggression and domination. Free peoples, too, people who are really free
will stand by us and support us against the forces of tyranny….
Source:
from The Suez Canal Problem, 26 July-22 September 1956, U.S. Department of State
Publication No. 6392 (Washington: G.P.O., 1956), pp. 345-351.
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© Paul Halsall, July 1998
