It was on November 04 1956 that the UN General Assembly voted to accept the idea proposed by a Canadian diplomat for a United Nations force to keep the peace between Egypt and a coalition of British, French, and Isreali forces in what is known as the Suez Crisis.
The crisis began in July of that year when Egyptian President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal Company, run by the French with the British as major shareholder. Seen as a threat to state security, should Egypt close the canal and vital shipping, a military strike against Egypt using an attack by the newly formed state of Israel as a proxy. The two European nations then intervened as a “peacekeeper” to separate the two sides, and take over the canal.
However, world opinion turned against Britain and France who needed an excuse to back down, even as the conflict threatened to expand and bring in other countries, including the Soviet Union, in a major international war. Canada’s Lester Pearson, who will eventually become Canadian Prime Minister worked furiously to build a concensus at the General Assembly and create the first international peacekeeping force to enforce a cease-fire and stabilize the situation while a diplomatic solution was worked out.
A multi-national force of 6,000, from 10 countries under Canadian command was sent in and the idea of UN peacekeeping, initiated by Canada, became the model to this day. Canada has also participated in some way in almost every peacekeeping mission since.
Lester Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.
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