FOREIGN RELATIONS: Sailing on a Pledge

Beyond the power plays and dickerings that whirled around the Jordan crisis, Washington last week rated as the diplomatic news of the week another prime accomplishment: after months of threat, war and negotiation, the Suez Canal was open for business again. True enough, it was open on Nasser's terms, as he made clear in a unilateral declaration deposited with the United Nations Security Council. But in laying out the terms, Nasser made important concessions by pledging himself to: ΒΆ "Respect the terms and spirit" of the 1888 Constantinople Convention, which provided that the canal "shall always be free and...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!