Oman: internal political situation

This file relates to the internal political situation in Oman. It contains correspondence concerning:

• A report on tribal resistance at Jabal Akhdar (Jebel Akhdar)
• A report on the visit to Ibri to investigate the reported trouble with the Bani Kalban tribe at Miskin
• An account of the occupation of Nizwa by Dr Zakiuddin
• A list of prisoners brought into Muscat from Nizwa and imprisoned in the Jalali fort [Al Jalali fort], including Mahmoud Bin Zuhair Bin Ghusan who described himself as Taleb Bin Ali Al Hina'i's Commander in Chief
• Reports concerning the whereabouts of Taleb Bin Ali Al Hina’i
• A report from the air reconnaissance of Muscat
• Reports from Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan brother of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi concerning the negative feeling at Ibri for the Ruler of Muscat and Oman Sultan Saeed Bin Taimur
• The risks involved by HMG adopting a policy of blockade and political warfare appearing to be greater than those of authorising armed intervention by the RAF
• The fears of the Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs relating to developments in Oman and loss of life; HMG's assurances that British forces were taking every precaution to minimise loss of life
• The re-establishment of the Sultan's administration and the withdrawal of British forces
• The Arab states' desire to raise the Oman question at the UN Security Council on 17 September and HMG's strategy to block the item reaching the agenda
• A letter from Ghalib Bin Ali Al Hina'i to the Political Resident in the Gulf C A Gault notifying him that the people of Oman view self-determination as their right and requesting HMG's assistance in acting as a mediator between themselves and the Government of Muscat
• A list of routes, described in detail in terms of usability for troops for the area surrounding Jebal Akhdar [Jebel Akhdar]
• The position of rebel leaders in the mountainous villages of Saiq and Sharaijah and the necessity of RAF support to help the Sultan's forces occupy these places
• A report on the patrol of Tanuf to Jebel Akhdar 25-28 September
• A telegram highlighting a radio item which states that in the past few days British planes have dropped bombs containing germs killing thousands of inhabitants of Oman
• An outline plan to occupy the villages of Ain and Aqar Beni Habib and destroy houses, crops, water systems and foodstocks
• The Sultan's objectives for further action, including to capture and kill Taleb Bin Ali Al Hina’i, Ghalib Bin Ali Al Hina’i and Sulaiman Bin Himyar Al Nabhani
• A witness statement from Mohammad Bin Almas a Bahrain subject about conditions at Jebel Akhdar
• A report on operations for 20 October
• Sulaiman Bin Himyar's contact with the Sultan and the possibility that he might be pardoned if the other leaders are killed
• HMG's discussions of the reasons that the Muscat Armed Forces (MAF) failed to reach their objectives.