June 28, 1957 Suez Canal Crisis
“The United States position with respect to passage through the Suez Canal arises from a very considerable body of international jurisprudence and custom on the matter and has been publicly stated over a period of years. It is founded on broad principles of respect for international law and orderly and just relations between nations. The United States views on this matter have in no way been altered by the events of last October and November.
“Elements of this position include inter alia the following:
“1. The Constantinople Convention of 1888. It is noted that the Government of Egypt over the years has given assurances of its determination to carry out the terms of the Convention. The most recent instance is that Government’s formal declaration of April 24, 1957.
“2. The Security Council resolution of October 13, 1956 which established the Six Principles with respect to the operation of the Canal. It is noted that the first of those principles reaffirms that there should be free and open transit through the Canal, without discrimination, overt or covert. The third principle states that the operation of the Canal should be insulated from the politics of any country. It is recalled that the Government of Egypt expressed in the Council its acceptance of the Six Principles.
“3. The Security Council resolution of September 1, 1951 which found that in view of the terms of the Armistice Agreements neither Egypt nor Israel could assert that it was actively a belligerent and called upon Egypt to terminate the restrictions on the passage of international commercial shipping and goods through the Suez Canal wherever bound.
“On the basis of these factors, the United States believes, as its representative stated in the Security Council on April 26, 1957, that there should be ‘free and non-discriminatory use of the Canal at all times by the ships of all nations.’”
Source: 73
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