CONEIDENTIAL BRITISH CONSULATE GENERAL MUSCAT 11912/216 February 5, 1961 The Sultan has at last agreed that the road between Nizwa and Ibri should be opened to civilian traffic for an experimental period of two months. The situation is to be reviewed at the beginning of April. S.A.F. have been pressing for this for months in the belief that the rebels would be reluctant to mine roads used by civilian traffic. Recent events have led us to doubt this but it will be interesting to see how it works out. I am sending a copy of this letter to Hawley at Dubai and to Bullock at the Foreign office. (J.1.. Phillips) J.A. Ford Esc. M.C., BRITISH RESIDENCY, BAHRAIN CONFIDENTIAL
