Situation among tribes and sheiks of Muscat and Oman; involvement of Arab League in affairs of Oman; Saudi Arabian threat and gun running; operations against Imam of Oman's headquarters at Nizwa

This file contains correspondence relating to:

• Reports in Cairo newspaper Al Ahram of operations by British forces in Oman. It also contains a cutting from News Chronicle dated 26 November 1955: 'Sultan Mops Up in Oasis Dispute' (160)
• Consideration that an announcement to the Arab states by the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, Saeed Bin Taimur, might alert Saudi Arabia to the impending operation, and reports from an Arab informant that the Imam of Oman, Ghalib Al Hina'i is no longer paying soldiers' wages (161)
• J Hopes suggests a cover plan for the Nizwa operation, given Prime Minister Anthony Eden's belief that the Saudis may be aware of British intentions. D M H Riches thinks it unlikely that the Saudis will be able to thwart the operation (162)
• Background details of the planned operation to capture Nizwa, from Foreign Secretary Harold Macmillan to Eden (163)
• Press reports that the Imam's envoy in Egypt delivered a note to the Arab League asking the Arab states to halt British aggression against Oman, and that Britain warned the Imam to surrender. It also contains a newspaper cutting from The Times, entitled 'British Invasion of Oman', dated 29 November 1955 (164)
• Daily Express correspondent James Redfern. It contains conflicting reports as to his trustworthiness. The Foreign Office advises against visits by any correspondents until the Nizwa operation is over (164A)
• Mr Gibson's, of the Iraq Petroleum Company, planned visit to Sultan Saeed Bin Taimur. He must be discretely advised of the impending Nizwa operation and persuaded to postpone his visit (165)
• Impossibility of expediting the Nizwa operation further. C A E Shuckburgh suggests that the political and publicity situation following the operation will be easier if the Sultan is not pushed into action before he is ready (166)
• The Sultan no longer intending to arrive in the interior in time to take part in the Nizwa operation. B A B Burrows wants to meet the Sultan to arrange last minute matters of timing, coordination, and publicity (167)
• Britain discouraging local journalists from going to Oman until the impending Nizwa operation is over, but require a reliable journalist to cover events as they happen. Britain arranges for The Times to send Peter Fleming (168-169)
• Statement in Al Gomhouria from the Imam of Oman's Ambassador refuting British claims that operations in Oman do not involve British troops (171)
• Various communications to the Arab League calling for help against British aggression in Oman (172)
• Reports that certain Sheikhs, including Sheikh Sulaiman Bin Hamyar, are to meet at Izki to dismiss the Imam of Oman or to receive his resignation. It also raises the idea of Sultan Saeed Bin Taimur acquiring the office of Imam (173)
• Article from Akhbar Al Dhahran [translation enclosed] attacking the extent of British influence in Oman. It was written by Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi (174)
• Suggestion that Sultan Saeed Bin Taimur and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi send messages to the Arab Governments (175)
• The Sultan's agreement to send several short communiques during the Nizwa operation, to issue a longer background statement after the event, and to write to Nuri Pasha. The Sultan will be accompanied from Salalah to Oman by Peter Fleming representing The Times (176)
• Programme of the Sultan's movements. It also mentions the need to besiege Rostaq [Rustaq] and Burrows urging the Muscat authorities to intercept communications between Taleb Al Hina'i and the outside world (177)
• Decision that the Trucial Oman Levies reserve squadron should remain at Sharjah until required (178)
• First Muscat communiqué will refer to operations being undertaken to restore government authority against treasonous tribal leaders (179)
• Aide memoire to Iraq stating that the Imam's ambassador is an Egyptian adventurer paid for by the Saudis (180)
• Need for all communiqués to be issued in Arabic first to prevent negative coverage in Arab newspapers, but the difficulty in doing so (181, 183)
• Arab press reports accusing Britain of asking the Imam of Oman to surrender or have his territory taken by force, and that Libyan soldiers have been fighting in the Gulf area and that some mutinied against the British (182)
• Situation report of the Nizwa operation: Adem [Adam] and Ferq [Firq] occupied on 14 December 1955 (184)