Posted on 10/30/2006 5:26:01 AM PST by Nextrush
As promised by President Eisenhower the United Nations Security Council went into emergency session on October 30, 1956.
Both the United States and Soviet Union introduced resolutions calling on Israel to cease its attack and pull back to the 1949 armistice lines.
The United States resolution called on other nations to not use force or threaten to use force in the situation (clearly aimed at France and Britain). It also called for sanctions against Israel until she complied with the resolution.
Both resolutions were vetoed by France and Britain.
Eventually the Yugoslav delegate asked the council to use a procudural maneuver (Uniting for Peace) to take the issue to the General Assembly of the UN and that was approved because it was a procudural vote.
In Canada the Liberal Party government of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent had taken a neutral stance towards the Anglo-French position on Suez to the consternation of Great Britain. His Foreign Minister and former U.N. Ambassador Lester Pearson urged this position and decided to go to New York to try to find a "compromise" solution to the crisis that was dividing Britain and France from other nations.
President Eisenhower was trying to find answers from Prime Minister Eden in a series of cables exchanged during the day on October 30th. But in the midst of it all Eisenhower's anger was stirred by a news bulletin from London.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Anthony Eden announced an ultimatum for Egyptian and Israeli forces to clear 10 miles away from the Canal Zone by 4:30 AM London time the next day or face military action. This was also announced in Paris.
Labor Party MP's rose in anger over the ultimatum and accused Eden of being in collusion with the Israelis. A vote of confidence was held and Eden won easily.
Meanwhile in the Sinai one Israeli armored column moved too deep into the desert making Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan upset and worried when he visited the front. He wanted to keep the Egyptian Air Force from attacking because he expected the British and French to wipe it out when the ultimatum expired.
On the morning of the 30th, the parachuted battalion of the 202nd Airborne Brigade was already fighting Egyptian troops at Mitla Pass. They were being strafed by Egyptian jet fighters. The Israeli Air Force had to be committed to provide air cover, providing futher worry of Egyptian Air Force attacks in response.
The parachuted battalion held its position until the other two battalions of the 202nd arrived in trucks that crossed the Sinai. They came with supporting tanks and artillery.
By 10-30 P.M. on the 30th the rest of the brigade was in place at the east end of the pass.
Fearful of possible armored attack from the north brigade commander Colonel Ariel Sharon decided to attack into Mitla Pass the next morning to find more defensible positions.............
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