SECRET & PERSONAL. * No. 5139 H.B.M'S CONSULATE GENERAL, MUSCAT.April 9, 1958. My dear Isaac, Thanks for your letter of April 5. 2. I have not seen the report you mention. However theSultan has indicated that he does not feel able to approve yourleaflet about Sulaiman sent to him to consider when you werelast here. There are a variety of reasons, but briefly theidea is not thought satisfactory from a practical standpoint.Everyone knows that Sulaiman has broken with the Sultan, butfor the Sultan to announce publicly that he has been outlawedand stripped of everything when in fact he is still in possessionof much of his own land from which he cannot at present beevicted is not realistic, and tends to make the Sultan lookas if he can't implement his threat. In fact Sulaiman'swhole claim is that he is independent of the Sultan and doesnot look to him for recognition, and his tribe are doubtless ofthe same mind, and the Sultan's action would only serve toemphasise this. Also such an announcement would preventany rapprochement between the two for all time, and mightprove an embarrassment in future in changed circumstances. 3. In fact circumstances do appear to be changing somewhatat this very moment, and far more pressure is being broughtagainst the rebels than before, whilst the military are beginningto get to actual grips with them. If this really develops, itis not impossible that Sulaiman will be forced to sue for peaceupon the Sultan's terms. But in any case it seems that thereal rebels are operating upon more or less defended positionsalong a lateral track round the mountain only some 2000 feetabove the Kamah, Izki and Muti area, and it is the Beni Riyamat the base of the mountain and the leaders with them,, who arecarrying on the fight, rather than the jungle" folk of the highvillages, with the leaders just lurking at the top, as we firstsupposed. The situation does not therefore seem to be so suitablefor your plan (though I hesitate to offer comments on a subjectabout which I know so little), and it is the people below rather thanthose at the top who need hitting, and dissuading from sustaining theleaders, 4. Hence it seems that you should perhaps try to think upsome other ideas, in conjunction with Maxwell, Tarik and SayidAhmed, to tackle this changing situation and apply them asopportunity offers. 5. In the meantime you alreaäy have the Sultan's clearancefor the day to day leaflets and announcements on the lines heindicated when you were here and you are presumable using thisalso in consultation with Maxwell, Tarik and Sayid Ahmed. 6. Any new idea must necessarily be in close concert with themilitary and when decided on the spot, will have to be putup through Waterfield, or it may get out of step with the generalscheme. I am copying this and your letter under reference toHeadquarters, Land Forces Persian Gulf and to Waterfield. (F.C.L. Chauncy). Major R.J. Isaac, 0.B.E., M.C., c/o N.F.R., NIZWA, See now letter of Mayco to Chauny.
