By Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al / Exactly seven decades ago, in November 1956, an armed conflict erupted in the Middle East after Israel, supported by France and Great Britain, undertook a series of bombings against Egypt. This occurred after the latter, under the leadership of Gamal Abdel Nasser, decided to nationalize the Suez Canal, one of the most important maritime routes in the world. This became the leading news in all global media and, surprisingly, drew the attention of the primary leader of communist Albania, Enver Hoxha, who would dedicate entire pages to it in his political diary. In addition to the notes kept in his political diary, Enver Hoxha would also devote special attention to the conflict between Israel and Egypt in the report he delivered at the 3rd Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA, which held its proceedings a few months later (February 1957). In the section regarding the international situation, he commented on and analyzed the events in the Middle East.
Regarding these and other international events of that time, we will become acquainted through Enver Hoxha’s political diary, which begins with the Israeli bombings of Cairo and ends with the PLA Central Committee Plenum’s analysis of the fate of the Middle East. Through harsh and direct language, these notes take us back in time, showing how the chief communist leader of a small Balkan country followed every move in the Sinai desert with anxiety. It is a journey through ultimatums, popular demonstrations, and clashes between great powers that laid the foundations of the world we know today.
Not only that, but in those notes and analyses from Enver Hoxha’s political diary, we will see how he openly condemns the military intervention of Israel, Britain, and France in the Sinai and the Suez Canal (October–November 1956), and also his full support for President Nasser and the Egyptian people, considering their war as a defense of national sovereignty.
In his notes, the primary leader of communist Albania, Enver Hoxha, did not forget his criticisms of the UN, expressing skepticism toward the role of the United Nations and viewing their resolutions as “compromises that favor the aggressors.” He also attacked the USA, opposing the “Eisenhower Doctrine.” There, Hoxha analyzes the USA and its foreign policy regarding the events of 1957, considering them “an attempt to replace the old colonialism (Anglo-French) with a new form of economic and military dependence.” Regarding this and more, we will learn in this article, which Memorie.al publishes for the first time, in the context of current events in the Middle East.
EXCERPTS FROM THE POLITICAL DIARY OF ENVER HOXHA, NOVEMBER 1956
NOVEMBER 1, 1956
Foreign radio stations and ATA (Albanian Telegraphic Agency) bulletins inform of a very dangerous provocation and a very grave situation in the Middle East: the military aggression of Israel against Egypt. Since the day before yesterday, Israeli military forces have crossed the Egypt-Israel armistice demarcation line and have launched a large-scale operation in the Sinai Peninsula. As reported, fierce fighting is taking place. The Egyptian army is resisting the Israeli invasion. As if Israel’s aggression were not enough, the British and French governments, under the pretext of securing passage through the Suez Canal, have sent an ultimatum to the Egyptian government – and for appearance’s sake, to the Israeli one as well – with the demand to halt “all military actions on land, sea, and air and to withdraw the warring military forces to a distance of 16 kilometers from the Suez Canal.”
“If this is not done within 12 hours,” the Anglo-French threaten, “British and French military units will intervene with whatever force is necessary to ensure compliance with what is demanded in the ultimatum.” The ultimatum, which makes no distinction between the aggressor and its victim, is open proof of the fact that the current Israeli military aggression against Egypt is a joint British-French-Israeli aggression. This is how I judge this matter. We will defend and support the struggle of the Egyptian people and other Arab peoples against the Israeli aggressor and its masters, whoever they may be.
At the same time, we will take the necessary measures required by the situation to protect our country from the consequences that the development of events in the Mediterranean basin may bring. Israel’s aggression against Egypt is taking on wide proportions. As soon as President Nasser summoned the British ambassador in Cairo and informed him that the Egyptian government rejected the Anglo-French ultimatum as a hostile act that affects the right, honor, and sovereignty of his country, radio stations and news agencies announced that a large number of English and French bombers began the bombardment of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, and Ismailia. A great shame for the imperialists and their servants! But they have neither shame nor decency.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1956
Today, our Government’s Declaration was published, through which we resolutely denounce the criminal act of Anglo-French-Israeli military aggression against Egypt. In the name of our people, we also declare that we fully support the just struggle of the Egyptian government and people to defend their country. We gave instructions to organize popular manifestations and demonstrations throughout the country to condemn the imperialist military aggression and the acts of bombardment on Egyptian cities and to show our people’s solidarity with the Egyptian people.
I feel very sorry for the poor but hardworking Egyptian people who have fallen victim to a barbaric aggression by the imperialist powers and their servant, Israel. I learned today from news agencies that the English and French continue to drop incendiary and explosive bombs on Egyptian cities, killing and wounding dozens of people among the unprotected population. These same agencies report that the Egyptian government broke diplomatic relations with Britain and France yesterday and declared itself in a state of war with both these imperialist aggressor countries. This is a very just, decisive, and dignified action by the Egyptian government. We salute it.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1956
The Anglo-French-Israeli military aggression, the brutal aerial bombardments, and the killing of unprotected people in Egyptian cities by Anglo-French military aviation have caused a great and unanimous reaction in progressive world public opinion, and especially among the working masses. From what I hear on foreign radio and read in ATA bulletins, in the vast majority of the world’s countries – in Europe, Africa, Asia, and America – massive popular demonstrations are taking place to condemn the aggressors, to demand their withdrawal from Egypt, and to express solidarity with the just struggle of the Egyptian people. So, everywhere it is being said: “Hands off Egypt.” This is a good sign!
The imperialist military aggression against Egypt is being discussed extensively these days and is also being harshly condemned in the proceedings of the extraordinary session of the UN General Assembly. But in this “assembly of peoples,” as some like to call it, attempts are simultaneously being made to exonerate the imperialist aggressors and Israel, to save them from condemnation and responsibility, and to force Egypt to accept resolutions and compromises, including a “recommendation” for a ceasefire. This is a bad sign.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1956
After accepting the UN recommendation to establish a ceasefire with the Israeli aggressors, the Egyptian government made another retreat yesterday. It accepted a proposal, or recommendation, from UN Secretary-General Hammarskjöld for the creation and deployment of international police forces in the lands separating the aggressive Israeli military forces and the Egyptian military forces to “guard and maintain the peace”! This action clearly appears to be in favor of the Israeli aggressors, who refuse to withdraw from occupied Egyptian lands, and to the detriment of Egypt’s sovereignty. Let us see now what will happen and what will be plotted further to save the Israeli aggressors and their imperialist masters from condemnation.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 1957
Yesterday, President Eisenhower, in a special joint meeting of the House and the Senate, read his message on United States policy in the Middle East. Among other things, it was said that American policy will strengthen the “national independence” of the Middle East. Nonsense. The American president’s doctrine, which aims at the subjugation of the countries of the near and Middle East, contains within itself the seeds of a new war. The imperialists think that everything depends on them. But no. The liberation movement of the peoples, which has gained great momentum in the colonies, will triumph, and the imperialists cannot stop it with either dollars or cannons.
“ON THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND THE TASKS OF THE PARTY”
From the report delivered at the 3rd Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA
February 13, 1957
IMPERIALIST AGGRESSION AGAINST EGYPT
One of the characteristics of today’s international situation is the sharpening of contradictions between imperialism and the countries called neutral. As is known, the victory of the Soviet Union against fascism and the victory of socialism in China, the creation of the world system of socialism, have had a very large and direct influence on the awakening of oppressed and colonial peoples, in their rising up in struggle to gain freedom and independence against the imperialist colonizers.
The states of countries that have been liberated from the imperialist yoke, such as Egypt, Syria, etc., are bourgeois states, but they are not imperialist states; they follow the policy of maintaining national independence and the struggle against imperialism and colonialism. The struggle against colonialism and imperialism brings these states closer to the Soviet Union and the camp of socialism generally, but these states are not socialist; they are not part of the socialist camp. Therefore, these states are called independent, neutral states.
The Bandung Conference of Asian and African countries defined their general orientation in international relations: against colonialism, for the preservation of peace, for peaceful coexistence, and for cooperation between states with different social systems. Objectively, their stance is against imperialism. The peoples of the near and Middle East are expanding their struggle to gain and strengthen independence. This struggle has caused very great damage to the colonizers. Many Arab countries have been liberated, and others are fighting to gain freedom.
The colonial system is in complete disintegration. French colonialism is breathing its last. Tunisia and Morocco gained their independence, while Algeria has been in fire and flames for some time. The Algerian people are fighting heroically to get rid of the hated yoke of the French colonizers, who, using the right-wing leaders of the French socialist parties with Guy Mollet at the head, have unleashed an unprecedented terror there. Almost half of the French army is engaged in Algeria. The French socialists were fully unmasked as blind tools of imperialism and traitors in the Suez Canal Company, which was used by the imperialist powers as a means of exploitation and oppression against the Egyptian people.
The struggle of Egypt and the Arab peoples for independence causes heavy damage especially to two of the largest colonial powers, England and France, whose monopolies are losing the colossal super-profits they extract from the plundering of the great wealth of these countries. It is enough to mention that the countries of the Middle East have three-quarters of the quantity of oil known in the capitalist world. Simultaneously, it must be emphasized that the countries of the Near and Middle East have great strategic importance in the general aggressive plans of imperialism. For all these reasons, the nationalization of the Suez Canal Company was found by the imperialists as a pretext to start the attack against all Arab countries.
It is known that the attack of Israel against Egypt was nothing other than a provocation to justify imperialist intervention. In reality, it is the English and French imperialists who organized and launched the aggression against Egypt, while Israel is nothing but the pistol in the hands of the Anglo-French imperialists yesterday, and in the hand of the American imperialists today. By attacking Egypt, the Anglo-French imperialists wanted to take away its control of the Suez Canal, to break the resistance of Egypt and, by breaking the resistance of one of the largest Arab peoples, to demoralize the other Arab states, thus opening the way to abolish their national independence and re-establish colonial rule.
The attack against Egypt was the first step of this plan. As is known, the Anglo-French-Israeli aggression against Egypt failed. But the imperialists do not give up their plans to re-establish the colonialist system in these countries. In the realization of this plan, the main role, after the failure of England and France, is played by the American imperialists. The so-called Eisenhower Doctrine speaks clearly of this. President Eisenhower, in his message to Congress, presented his plan, with which he offers the countries of the near and Middle East “economic aid,” “military aid,” and the “use of American armed forces” in these countries, allegedly to protect them from the danger of international communism. In reality, this is a new plan for the enslavement of Arab peoples.
The United States of America, at the time when the existence of these countries was truly in danger, when Egypt was attacked by the imperialist Anglo-French-Israeli armies, took no measures in defense of the Egyptian people. Today, when the positions of the two main colonialist countries, England and France, have weakened, American imperialism did not hesitate to go so far as to prepare American military intervention in Arab countries under the mask of aid against a danger that does not exist. It is understood that the true goal of the United States of America is not the protection of the Arab peoples from “international communism,” but its takeover of dominant economic and political positions in these countries after England and France were expelled from there.
The largest Arab countries are fighting resolutely for the strengthening of their independence. Wanting to strengthen its independence, Egypt recently nationalized the Suez Canal, which constitutes a great danger to peace in the Near East and the world. The Anglo-French-Israeli aggression against Egypt and the victory of the latter sharpened the contradictions between the African-Asian peoples and imperialism. They condemned the aggression and supported Egypt. This victory increased confidence in their forces, in their just cause; it increased their hatred against imperialism. With the demagogic stance they took in the United Nations against the Anglo-French-Israeli aggression, the United States of America aimed to increase its influence in these countries.
But the proclamation of the “Eisenhower Doctrine” will aggravate the struggle of these peoples against imperialism, will raise them even against American imperialism, and will hasten the process of their liberation. The Arab peoples will not allow themselves to be put under a new yoke, no matter how much the imperialists try to hide it under the mask of demagoguery. The resistance of independent African-Asian peoples against imperialism enjoys the support of the Soviet Union, China, and all the countries of the Socialist Camp, as well as the peace-loving forces of the world. Facts are showing more and more that the situation in these countries did not take the course that the imperialists wanted to impose. Their struggle against imperialism will aggravate until the complete annihilation of colonialism.
Friendship between the Arab peoples and the countries of the socialist camp with the Soviet Union at the head is a brilliant victory achieved thanks to the peace-loving policy of the countries of the socialist camp. Friendly relations have been established between our state and the Republic of India, Egypt, Sudan, as well as with Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, etc. Before, no one gave weight to our country, because it was a colony in the hands of imperialist wolves. Today, the opinion of many African-Asian countries and distinguished leaders of these countries have expressed sympathy for our people. We think that Albania is of particular interest to the Arab peoples for several special reasons, but of primary importance, such as:
- The issue of the liberation of our small people from the yoke of the colonizers through armed struggle and with the help of the Soviet Union, an issue that the imperialists and colonizers seek to obscure.
- The issue of the affirmation of our state of people’s democracy as an independent, sovereign state – a state that showed great stability, that heroically and successfully resisted all the countless attempts of the imperialists and their servants, who within these 12 years tried to take power from the people’s hands but failed in every attempt because the people fought heroically, because they were vigilant, and because our state had the protection of the Soviet Union.
- The great progress of our people in the economy, culture, education, in social issues, the improvement of the people’s lives, and their unstoppable momentum for the building of socialism under the leadership of the Party of Labour, a Marxist-Leninist Party, against which large batteries of imperialists, anti-Marxists, revisionists, Trotskyists, and others are concentrated.
- For the opinion of Arab countries, it is interesting that in the people’s democracy of Albania – where the population in its vast majority has been of the Muslim faith and where many customs and ways of life were similar to theirs (because both we and they suffered under the brutal yoke of the Ottomans for centuries) – this great progress has been made, the bad remnants of the bitter past have been vanished, illiteracy has been eradicated, a modern socialist industry has been created, the socialist order is being built in the countryside, and women have removed the veil, and the state, being resolutely secular, tolerates and does not touch the religion and the feelings of faith of the people.
All these and others create interest in our country within progressive Arab opinion and, at the same time, a great love and sympathy for our people. We have all the possibilities now to make our Albanian reality even better known and certainly with our forces to give our modest contribution to the steeling of the friendship of these peoples with the peoples of the Socialist Camp. The example of Albania serves these countries so they can see that Marxism-Leninism is the guiding lighthouse of the prosperous and free life of the peoples. An example for this is the very existence and the happy and prosperous life of a small people, such as the small Albanian people, who live free, sovereign, honored, respected, and with all rights, just like a large state. / Memorie.al
