Oman: publicity

This file concerns the publicity surrounding the Jebel Akhdar War and the reaction to the conflict in the wider world. It contains correspondence relating to:

• Various statements on the conflict given at press conferences by British officials
• The official line to be given by British officials to the press regarding issues such as RAF activity and the deployment of British troops in Oman
• Various requests from journalists to visit the country and interview or photograph the Sultan
• Copies of a statement given in the House of Commons on the conflict by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Selwyn Lloyd
• The questioning of the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf C A Gault before Parliament regarding the conflict and British support for the Sultan of Muscat and Oman Saeed Bin Taimur
• A suggestion to embed journalists with some of the troops in Oman
• English and Arabic copies of statements on the conflict by the Sultan’s representatives
• Suggestions that ‘suitable’ Arab journalists be allowed to visit Oman to generate good publicity
• A request for photographs to be prepared proving that only military targets have been bombarded by the RAF
• The problem of journalists obtaining information from sources who give information different to the British government line
• Various reports on the narrative of the conflict broadcast in Egypt, the USSR, Iran and Libya
• A report that notices had appeared posted on walls in Bahrain calling for support of the Omanis against the British
• A report from Washington, DC regarding US disapproval of the Sultan’s statement on the conflict for the aspersions it cast on Saudi Arabia
• A statement from the US Consul-General in Dhahran W K Schwinn that the US has no desire to become involved in the conflict.