Visit of Lord Carrington, Secretary of State for Defence, to Saudi Arabia and Oman, 8-13 April 1973

This file concerns the UK Secretary of State for Defence Lord Carrington's [Peter Carington] visit to Saudi Arabia and Oman in April 1973 to underline the recent improvement in Anglo-Saudi relations. This was the highest level visit by a British minister to Oman since the Sultan of Oman Qaboos Bin Saeed Al Saeed's accession. It contains correspondence and memoranda relating to:

• A letter from the Saudi Arabian Minister of Defence and Aviation Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, conveying his acceptance of Lord Carrington’s invitation for him to visit Britain; and Lord Carrington’s reply
• Lord Carrington’s talks with the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sayyed Omar Saqqaf and King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, including reference to King Fasial’s determination to support President of Egypt Anwar Sadat militarily and otherwise
• Programmes and summaries relating to Lord Carrington's visit, including a summary of Lord Carrington’s conversation with the Sultan, with reference to: HMG’s decision to make a contribution of £50,000 to Oman to relieve the rising cost of loaned service personnel; Anglo-Omani relations; the Sultan’s desire to take more vigorous action towards the rebels and establish an air defence system; and the Sultan’s wish for Libyan assistance against South Yemen (PDRY) aggression
• A draft report relating to the situation in Dhofar, including reference to: the landing of a battalion of the Sultan’s Armed Forces in Simba Position [Sarfait] to intercept the supply lines used by Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf’s (PFLOAG) guerrillas; two companies of the Frontier Force and the Iranian Special Force holding a blocking position based on the denial of the camel train route between Mughsayl and Kumasi in Operation Hornbeam; the Indianisation of the Sultan of Oman’s Navy; and the management of defence
• The aid being given to Oman by Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
• A report addressed to Prime Minister Edward Heath, regarding Lord Carrington’s visit
• The new Secretary for Defence Elliott Richardson’s interest in HMG’s policy in the Middle East

This file also contains records of Cabinet documents that have been removed and which can be found in the relevant Cabinet series.