File on the British opposition

In June 1855, Ferdinand de Lesseps meets British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston and the British Prime Minister became Suez Canal’s bitterest opponent. Although, echoing these press articles, the majority of British public opinion appeared favourable towards the opening of the canal, the policy laid down by Palmerston was that followed officially until his death in 1865. Three articles from The Times are given below, the first and second dating from 1859, the year in which certain English newspapers exhibited extreme virulence on the subject of the project, following the foundation of the Universal Company of the Suez Maritime Canal at the end of 1858 and the beginning of work in April 1859, and the third dates from 1862 on the occasion of the joining of the waters of the Mediterranean with those of Lake Timsah. All illustrate the persistance of the attacks directed at de Lesseps's project and French ambitions in Egypt. Article in the Times, published 26 May 1859 Article in the Times, published 25 July 1859 Article in the Times, published 29 November 1862

____Summary____ History Report to Napoleon Biographical entry on de Lesseps Correspondence memoirs by de Lesseps Biography of Mohammed Said Memoirs by de Lesseps Firman of Mohammed Said Funding and shares portfolio File on the British opposition The First Blow of the Pickaxe October 1859: Reception at St Cloud The entrance of the Mediterranean into lake Timsah. Biography of Ismail Pasha The Opinions of the French The Imperial Decision Dredgers Firman of the Consul Abdul Aziz Call for subscription The Universal Exhibition The Joining of the Two Seas Tributes Content