SECRET
REPORT
on
BRIGADIER J. E. A. BAIRD'S VISIT
to
I BRI
from 24 - 25 JULY, 1955.
THE MUSCAT AND OMAN FILLD FORCE.
I arrived at IBRI on 24 July and had long discussions with Cheesenan
and rith some of the Officers. I spoke to nearly every man of the Force at
Ibri, including thirty who had arrived the previous day from NAFUN. It was
evident that morale has deteriorated seriously and that, to some extent, all
personnel of the Force are not affected.
2. It was on a Thursday, when an officer went to inspect the evening meal,
that the unsatisfactory state of affairs at NAFUN came to light. The inen
stated that they would not eat the food because they had certain complaints to
make. The following day was Friday when there were no parades, Cheeseman
ordered the men to assemble on Saturday morning. They did so, and he inter viewed some of them,
3. The complaints were those given in my previous report, but it is now
clear that the main reason for dissatisfaction is that persomel of the ICIU
Force are receiving a lower rate of pay and less generous scale of rations than
are given to casual labourers employed by the Oil Company. A comparison of
the rates of pay and ration scales is given in Appendices A and B. Cheesoman
has submitted a fairly comprehensive report to the Minister for Foreign Affairs
who has forwarded it to the Sultan, together with his own recommendations.
4. Both Cheesenan and Innes are agreed that the basic pay should be raised
by Rs.20/- per month and that other allowances should continue to be granted
as at present. Cheeseman considers that the ration scale should be altered;
Innes considers that the matter should be examined by the medical authorities.
5. As far as pay is concerned, I agree with the recommendations. The
effect would be that personnel of the Fiela Force would receive approximately
the same as casual labourers in the oil fields.
A casual labourer received Rs.2/4 per diem but the majority can, and do,
earn more by working overtime and on Fridays. Tribal guards receive Rs.801 per month in addition to a more generous scale of rations. It is believed
that their meat ration is twelve ounces per day.
6. The ration scale is not unduly inadequate except in the case of meat and
fish. The monthly allorance er man for the purchase of these two corimodities
is Rs, 2/- and Rs.1/8 respectively, but the quantities obtained are dependent on
current Suq prices which are constantly varying and have been rising. The
average amount of either fish or meat received by a man is less than one ounce
per day. The men are asking for an increased ration of meat or fish, tea, augar
and milk. Cheeseman has recommended that the quantity of tea, milk and meat or
fish should be doubled. I agree with Cheeseman,
SECRET
