Empire Podcast, Episode 287

Suez Crisis: Lies, Cyanide Pills & Soviet Tanks (Part 4)

Hosts: William Dalrymple & Anita Anand
Guest: Alex von Tunzelmann (author of Blood and Sand)
Date: September 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode plunges into the heated climax of the Suez Crisis of 1956, focusing on the chaotic convergence of imperial decline, Cold War anxieties, and dramatic miscalculations by global powers. The hosts and guest historian Alex von Tunzelmann dissect the parallel crises in Egypt and Hungary, the diplomatic farces on the world stage, and the personal dramas haunting the figures at the heart of the matter. Through witty banter and detailed context, the episode reveals how the ambitions, blunders, and perceptions of key players shaped the crisis—and how its ripples still impact global affairs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Escalating Crisis – Egypt, Hungary, and Superpower Dilemmas

• Episode Launch: Picking up from a prior cliffhanger, Egypt is on a war footing under Nasser. The British and French, colluding with Israel, have failed in their military objectives and gravely miscalculated global reactions ([00:59-01:53]).
  • Quote:
    "They've annoyed the Americans. They haven't told them about it. They've annoyed their own parliamentarians. The Queen is quite annoyed." – William Dalrymple ([01:53])
  • The Soviets, busy suppressing the Hungarian Revolution, view the Suez crisis as a distraction, conveniently shifting world attention away from their brutal crackdown in Eastern Europe ([02:49–04:05]).
    • Quote:
      "The Soviet government regards Suez as a heaven sent distraction from Hungary in that the world is looking at the Middle East at this point." – Alex von Tunzelmann ([03:23])

2. Britain’s Fumble and American Fury

• Self-Inflicted Wounds: Both Britain and the US are blindsided by events; the British have scored a "lone goal" by getting entangled at Suez precisely as Hungary is unraveling ([04:05–05:38]).
  • Notable Moment:
    The Soviets cannot believe the British could be "so stupid," suspecting a deeper plot—a comical, pointed reflection on Anglo imperialist reputation ([05:11–05:38]).
    • Quote:
      "They can't imagine that the British are being quite stupid enough to do something as sort of blatantly hopeless as Suez." – Anita Anand ([05:11])
• Domino Fears: Soviet alarm over Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact; fear of a domino effect and American meddling ([07:19–08:52]).

3. Hungarian Revolution Parallel

• Imre Nagy’s Gamble: Hungarian leader Nagy withdraws from the Warsaw Pact in a desperate bid for neutrality and Western intervention; this inadvertently fuels Soviet paranoia ([07:19–08:52]).
  • Quote:
    "Our only hope is to say we're neutral and maybe then somebody international will intervene." – Alex von Tunzelmann ([07:42])
• Crisis Peaks: The Soviets are determined to crush the uprising, fearing other Eastern Bloc states would follow Hungary’s example ([08:52]).

4. The UN’s First Real Test & American Calculations

• Global Diplomacy in Action ([09:33–12:07]):
  • The US pushes the Suez crisis to the United Nations, with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles passionately advocating for a ceasefire and condemning both Soviet and Anglo-French adventurism.
  • Notable Quote:
    "If that happens, the future is dark indeed.... Now we know that what can be will be infinitely more tragic than what we saw in World War II." – John Foster Dulles (read by Alex von Tunzelmann, [13:10])
  • The vote passes overwhelmingly: 64 to 5, with Britain, France, Israel, and their coerced supporters (Australia and New Zealand) opposing the US, highlighting the rift in the Western alliance ([15:52–16:15]).
    • Memorable Moment:
      "Britain manages to kind of bully Australia and New Zealand into supporting them. But that is disgraceful. And imagine those countries voting against the US—it's really quite a moment." – Alex von Tunzelmann ([15:52])

5. Oil Shock, Blockade & Home Pressures

• Nasser’s Tactics: Egypt blockades the Suez Canal by sinking ships stuffed with beer bottles and junk—contradicting the British/French rationale for intervention ([18:36–19:17]).
  • Humorous Detail:
    "Egyptian Stella. Stella beer, which has a very heavy brown bottle." – Anita Anand ([19:10])
• Oil Crisis: Disruption threatens British and European oil supplies, forcing rationing and igniting domestic and political crises ([20:11–21:23]).
  • Quote:
    "Britain and France do not particularly have an alternative to supply of oil." – Alex von Tunzelmann ([21:23])

6. France’s Algerian Nightmare

• French Colonial Blindspots: French resolve is hardened by their concurrent war in Algeria, desperately convinced most Algerians are loyal to France and blaming "troublemakers" influenced by Nasser ([22:17–23:39]).
  • "That did not work. It didn’t actually go at all well." – Alex von Tunzelmann ([22:38])

7. Imperial Disarray: Allies Splinter

• US-Britain Rift: Vice President Nixon and President Eisenhower openly scold Britain and France, signaling a new era of American independence from "old colonial" policies. Nixon frames America's break as a global turning point ([25:02–26:20]).
  • Quote:
    "For the first time in history we've shown independence of Anglo French policies towards Asia and Africa... This Declaration of independence has had an electrifying effect throughout the world." – Richard Nixon, recounted by Alex von Tunzelmann ([25:22])
• Eden Cornered: At home, PM Eden faces fierce opposition as fuel shortages bite and public patience evaporates ([23:40–24:08]).

8. Internal Elite Backlash – Mountbatten’s Revolt

• Unexpected Dissent: Lord Mountbatten, Admiral of the Fleet and imperial icon, denounces Eden’s course, expressing "great unhappiness" and aligning with anti-colonial sentiment—even among Tory grandees ([27:39–28:47]).
  • Quote:
    "I can no longer remain silent." – Lord Mountbatten, via Anita Anand ([28:13])
• Mountbatten’s legendary quip:
  "No, I'm sorry, I vote Labour. You'll have to go around the back. My butler's a conservative." – Mountbatten anecdote ([28:38])

Memorable Segment: "Cyanide Pills and Determined Defiance"

• Nasser Teeters, then Resolves: As Cairo faces apparent collapse, Nasser distributes cyanide suicide capsules to his inner circle to underscore the gravity of defiance ([30:14–31:47]).
  • Quote:
    "Far better that we will commit suicide here than take this step. You know, at least that would be honorable." – Nasser, via Alex von Tunzelmann ([31:03])
  • Stellar anecdote:
    The hosts riff on Nasser's drama, drawing parallels to Tamil Tigers and guerrilla tactics in global conflicts ([31:49]).
• Guerrilla Warfare: Nasser evolves strategy, activating the Fedayeen and preparing for mass popular resistance ([32:11–33:04]).
  • Quote:
    "The whole army will be converted into a guerrilla force and pulled deep into Egypt and let them fight us there. Your behavior is unmanly." – Nasser admonishing his Minister of War ([33:01])

10. Anglo-French Blunders and Psychological Warfare

• Operation Musketeer Psych-ops: Britain and France, seeking to intimidate and demoralize Egyptians, release overt psychological broadcasts (“psyops”). But their efforts only galvanize Egyptian resolve and further tarnish their “peacekeeping” pretense ([34:21–36:11]).
  • Quote:
    "It just really is looking worse and worse. Like almost everything that happens just makes Britain and France look worse, more deceptive, more awful than the last thing." – Alex von Tunzelmann ([36:11])
• Nasser’s Propaganda Triumph: Nasser takes to the streets, rallying Egyptians with the slogan "We will fight, we will fight, we will fight," turning foreign threats into popular defiance ([36:13–36:46]).

Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

• British Understatement (re: diplomatic catastrophe):
  "I fear we are in for a bad time in our relations with this country. Again, another understatement." – William Dalrymple ([06:29])
• On the UN’s impotence:
  "That is something that is going to be levelled at the United nations every time there is a resolution to follow." – William Dalrymple ([16:15])
• Dulles’ Stark Warning on War:
  "What can be will be infinitely more tragic than what we saw in World War II." – Dulles, via Alex von Tunzelmann ([13:10])
• Cynicism about American “anti-imperialism”:
  "But nobody else should have one because it's not America." – William Dalrymple ([25:20])

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:59–01:53 Introduction to chaos in Egypt, British blunders, and international fallout
• 03:08–04:05 Soviet use of Suez as cover for Hungary
• 07:19–08:52 Hungary exits Warsaw Pact, raising Soviet fears
• 09:33–13:10 UN debates, Dulles’ anti-war speech, nuclear fears
• 15:52–16:15 UN vote—Western alliance split
• 18:36–19:17 Suez Canal blockaded with junk and beer bottles
• 22:17–23:39 French entanglement with Algerian insurgency
• 25:02–26:20 Nixon reframes US as anti-colonial
• 27:39–28:47 Mountbatten's anti-Eden intervention
• 30:14–31:47 Nasser’s cyanide pills moment
• 34:21–36:11 Allied psy-ops, Nasser’s propaganda counter-offensive

Closing Mood & Takeaways

The episode encapsulates imperial hubris, world-order paranoia, and the unpredictable consequences of simultaneous crises. Anglo-French claims to world leadership crumble before American ire and global condemnation; Nasser's supposed brinkmanship becomes a symbol of anticolonial resistance; Soviet tanks roll in Hungary as Britain and France lose their last vestiges of diplomatic credibility. The story is full of rich personalities, dark humor, and moments of both absurdity and real terror—a fitting account for a world on the brink.

Next: The Aftermath Unfolds

Episode ends with Eden’s televised “man of peace” speech—widely seen as a hollow justification. The tension is left unresolved, with the fate of Egypt, British government, and the global order all hanging in the balance.

"Join us for the next episode where that lie is hanging over Parliament, you've got a guerrilla force being mobilized in Egypt, you've got the Americans thinking this is the number one concern at the moment, so a dying Secretary of State will not take his eyes off the situation. Let's find out what happens next." – William Dalrymple ([40:43])

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