Political relations between Muscat and Oman and UK

This file contains correspondence relating to:

• Extract from the minutes of a Chiefs of Staff Committee Meeting, held on 9 December 1957, addressing the draft directive prepared for the Minister who would go to Oman to discuss with the Sultan of Muscat and Oman Saeed Bin Taimur the future British relationship with him. It also contains a new introductory paragraph to the draft directive; a note on army requirements in Muscat; and an appendix on intelligence organisation in Muscat and Oman (15)
• Report on a discussion between the Sultan and the Consul General in Muscat F C L Chauncy regarding the proposed ministerial visit (17)
• Correspondence relating to the ministerial visit to be carried out by Julian Amery, including: the draft directive; a suitable gift for the Sultan; the suggestion that the visit should be delayed to avoid unnecessary publicity; a proposal to include the issue of the Sultan's customs post at Buraimi in the agenda; a proposal that it be suggested to the Sultan that he uses the opportunity of Amery's visit to ask for British officers to help improve his security forces and to ask for technical assistance towards building and maintaining good road communications; the size of Amery’s party (18-27, 29)
• Discrepancy between estimates for the cost of improving the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF), and the question of whether to commit to a financial contribution towards civil and military reforms in Oman, or to limit the discussions to finding out the exact cost of the measures required and the amount which the Sultan is prepared to provide (28)