ABSTRACT
The Suez crisis left a bitter legacy of anti-American feeling in Britain, particularly in the ruling Conservative Party.1 However, leading Conservative politicians were anxious to repair the breach with the United States as soon as possible, and with the final withdrawal of British and French troops from Egypt in December 1956 and the US Treasury’s agreement to ease Britain’s financial difficulties on 21 December, a restoration of the relationship seemed possible.2 The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Harold Macmillan, and the Deputy Prime Minister, R.A.Butler, both contenders for the ailing Anthony Eden’s position should the latter be forced to resign as Prime Minister, were strong advocates of repairing the ‘special relationship’ with the United States.3 Macmillan had already suggested to the Cabinet on 22 November 1956 that ‘we might hope to reestablish close political relations with the United States and secure a satisfactory and lasting settlement in the Middle East’.4 On 10 January 1957 Macmillan became Prime Minister.
