16 FEB 1981 CONTIDENTIAL sel Mr Heap ESSD Mr Braithwaite Mr J. Moberly MED PROPOSED OIL ADVISER IN DUBAI 1. Mr Peter Kelly of the Department of Energy telephoned yesterday to pursue a point which had come up during his Secretary of State's visit to Dubai. During this visit it had become apparent that there was friction between the local American-run oil company and the Dubai authorities. It had occurred to Mr Howell.and his advisers that the Minister of Oil, Mohammed bin Rashid, might be able to use an adviser who could play the same role in Dubai as the Algerian expert M. Krouha plays in Abu Dhabi. Sir D Maitland had suggested that Mr John Sutcliffe of BP might be an appropriate person to consider. Mr Ho company ahere was frio 2. Mr Kelly asks that we might canvas this idea in a telegram to Dubai. He also enquired whether I knew Mr Sutcliffe sufficiently well to comment on his suitability to the post. I said that I did not. 3. The request from the Department of Energy seems reasonable and if learned from the other recipients of this minute that they see no objection, I should be grateful if you could draft a telegram accordingly. Some further information will be found in the papers attached (not copied). It is clear that the enquiry of our posts in the UAE should be made in Confidence and not extend beyond the Embassies: BP themselves are not aware of the suggestion: (Bridges) 12 February 1981
