Famous Anglophile Sir Robert Menzies loved Britain dearly and it's certainly no stretch to say that before he made history as Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister he had seriously contemplated a career in UK politics. However, his allegiance to the Mother Country was sorely tested in 1956 by his British counterpart, Sir Anthony Eden, during the Suez Canal crisis. The Suez Crisis pre-dated the Cold War. It became a flash point in the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and Australia's most revered leader was caught up, smack-bang in the middle. It's a story outlined in the latest book on the political life of Sir Robert, 'The Menzies Era', written by another former PM, John Howard.
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Sir Robert Menzies was caught in the middle of a power play by the US and Britain over the Suez Canal crisis in 1956
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Menzies was thrust into the centre of a worldwide political drama when made the messenger by his UK counterpart Sir Anthony Eden
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His threat of likely military action was ridiculed by the then Egyptian President and then he was sidelined during key meetings
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Former PM John Howard calls Britain's behaviour of Menzies during that period as 'poor treatment of a loyal ally'
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The book also contains rare images of Menzies during his time as Australian Prime Minister, giving an insight into his record stint in power
Australia's longest serving PM always had a close affinity with the royals and the @placeholder