Seventy-one years ago today, on 27 July 1954 (28 June 1954 in the lunar calendar), Britain ended its 72-year occupation of Egypt. Nasser smiles as Britain's representative Anthony Head signs it 27 July 1954. Britain and Egypt reached an agreement this evening on the Suez Canal Treaty, thus ending Britain's 72-year military occupation. It marks the end of an important chapter in British colonial history. The agreement was drafted by Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal Abdel Nasser and British Defence Secretary Anthony Head. In the agreement, both sides pledged to immediately cease hostilities in the canal zone. Sporadic guerrilla warfare here has killed 46 Britons and nearly l00 Egyptians. The long-standing clause stipulates that all British 80,000 troops in the area must be withdrawn within 20 months. This clause will not come into effect until the detailed terms still to be agreed are signed. The compromise agreement allows British troops to return to the area within seven years if Egypt, Turkey, or any Arab country is attacked. The signing of the agreement may raise hopes that Nasser will receive US aid until the canal area issue is resolved. Such aid will promote Egypt's social and economic development.