Oman: internal political situation

This file relates to the situation in Oman following the rebellion. It covers correspondence on:

• A list of Sheikhs who have dined with the Sultan during the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf’s visit to the palace
• HMG’s attempts to apprehend rebel leader Taleb Bin Ali Al Hina'i; intelligence on his whereabouts; and expenses incurred by the Political Agency in Dubai in the process
• The general loyalty to the Sultan of Muscat of the tribes in Oman
• Operations to capture Nizwa, the base of the Imam of Oman Ghalib Bin Ali Al Hina'i
• Media activity on the situation
• The report that prior to the Nizwa operation the Saudi authorities attempted to persuade Omani refugees in Saudi Arabia to carry out paramilitary operations in support of the Imam
• Background information on tribal politics in Oman prior to the reoccupation of Nizwa from Consul General in Muscat F C L Chauncy, including the papers ‘Brief Note on the Internal History and Politics of Muscat and Oman up to the Agreement of Sib 1920 [Treaty of Seeb] and ‘A Note on the Imam’s Administration in the Interior of Oman’
• A letter from Stuart Watts of Petroleum Development (Oman) Limited, reporting on the treatment of less prominent Omani tribesmen in Saudi Arabia, and that Sheikh Saleh Bin Isa Al Harithi has gone into exile in Zanzibar
• Background information on the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
• The support of Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt for the admittance of Oman to the Arab League
• Translations of letters shown to Chauncy by Sayyed Ahmad Bin Ibrahim, including: from Sheikh Zahir Bin Ghisin Al Hina'i to the Wali of Nizwa Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ali Al Harithi; from Sheikh Zahir to Sayyed Ahmad regarding Ghalib; and from Sheikh Khalifa to Sayyed Ahmad
• A report that Ghalib had written to a friend at Rostaq and headed the letter with ‘Imam’
• The possibility that Ghalib might escape to Saudi Arabia
• The report that passports are being printed in Bahrain in the name of Ghalib, to be sold to Omani travellers to Saudi Arabia; and the names of the sellers
• Reports of a visit by Taleb and Sheikh Saleh to the Ruler of Qatar to ask him to expel from his territory any Omanis carrying Sultanate passports
• A report in the Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram of the arrival of Sheikh Saleh in Cairo to discuss the situation in Oman with Arab leaders.