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Eisenhower Wants Suez Canal Open for Free Use by All Nations

August 2, 1956
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President Eisenhower made it clear today that it was the desire of the United States to insure unrestricted use of the Suez Canal. He emphasized at his press conference that the U.S. is faced with a great issue that might be important not only to maritime nations but to the whole world.

Rep. Emanuel Celler, in a statement issued here today, urged that the Western Powers build an alternate canal route through Israel as an answer to Egypt’s seizure of the Suez Canal. He said that economic and military reprisals against Egypt would be the least satisfactory approach to the crisis.

Congressman Celler recommended blasting a canal from the Gulf of Akaba across the Negev to the Mediterranean. He thought that “little government cost” would be involved. He predicted that bonds could be sold and the cost would be “kept down to $150 million.” He said the “very preparation and original digging would reduce Nasser to size.”

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