Assuming that you're referring to the years of cold war,
Many Citizens started to believed republican party because of the potential threat from Uni Soviet. Republican tend to favor the policies that strengthen our military, and the majority of people in that period needed that feeling of protection from the Government.
Great Britain gained control of the Suez Canal in 1875 even though it did not finance or participate in its construction. Egypt found themselves in debt so they sold their shares of the Suez Canal to Great Britain.
