Political situation in Oman

This file concerns domestic and foreign political affairs in Oman. It contains correspondence and memoranda concerning:

• The Sultan of Oman Qaboos Bin Saeed Al Said’s concerns regarding the possible Soviet influence upon the Minister of Communications Abdul Hafidh Saleem Rajab
• The visits of Sultan Qaboos to Cairo and Tripoli and the visit of a Libyan military mission to Oman
• The success of the Omani security forces in foiling a plot by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arab Gulf (PFLOAG) in northern Oman
• The successes of the Sultan’s Armed Forces against the rebels in Dhofar
• The appointment of Sheikh Amer Ali Umair as Director of Information
• The unpopularity of the President of the Centre for Planning and Development Dr Riad Rais
• The visit by Sultan Qaboos to Abu Dhabi to meet the UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the question of Oman receiving financial assistance from Sheikh Zayed
• The awarding of a construction contract for development to the British firm Cementation Company; and the undue influence of businessmen Ghassan Shakir and Richard Anderson upon Omani political affairs
• The problems caused by the Sultan’s prolonged absences in Salalah
• The appointment of a Civil Service Committee
• The appointment of Sir William Halcrow & Partners Limited as consultants to the Dhofar Development Department
• The appointment of John Townsend as an economic adviser to the Sultan
• Sayyed Tariq Bin Taimur Al Said’s concerns regarding Sultan Qaboos’ personal rule, the question of forming a stronger system of cabinet government and Sayyed Tariq’s criticism of the Sultan’s advisors
• A plot by Taleb Bin Ali Al Hina’i and Imam Ghalib Bin Ali Al Hina’i to overthrow the Sultan
• The dismissal of the Sultan’s legal adviser Mahdi Sharif
• Propaganda from the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) concerning the Dhofar war
• A discussion between the Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home and the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie concerning the spread of communism in the Arabian peninsula and the rebellion in Dhofar
• A photograph of the Sultan cut out from Al Watan showing the Sultan signing a document in the presence of his advisers
• The question of the Ruler of Qatar Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani settling a dispute concerning the borders between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman
• An interview with Sultan Qaboos in the Jordanian newspaper Al Rai raising claims of the involvement of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the Dhofar rebellion
• Soviet and Chinese activity in Dhofar and South Yemen
• A memorandum by HM Ambassador in Muscat D F Hawley detailing the personal rule of Sultan Qaboos and his inner circle
• The question of granting development aid to Oman
• The request for the secondment of British Special Branch personnel to Oman
• The meeting of the Foreign Secretary and the Japanese Foreign Minister Masayoshi Ohira concerning Chinese activities in South Yemen and Oman
• Developing effective countermeasures for the SAF in dealing with rocket attacks
• The question of establishing a new position on the front line in Dhofar
• Rumours concerning British intentions of withdrawing military units from Oman and the Sultan’s opposition
• Top level personnel changes in the Omani government
• The establishment of the Ministry of Diwan Affairs
• A memorandum by Hawley on the security situation in Dhofar.