Armed forces of Muscat and Oman

This file relates to the armed forces of Oman. It covers correspondence on:

• Financial provision for the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) for 1960/61 and short term measures set out in an agreed minute [both enclosed] (1)
• Loan of two 5.5 inch guns to the SAF, and the recommendation that the loan should continue for the current year, but not in the long term. It also includes the wish of the Commander of the SAF Colonel Smiley to carry out an annual artillery observation course with a demonstration to the public, involving an expenditure of rounds which would be replaced from Aden, and the recommendation by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf G H Middleton that this be authorised (2, 5)
• Discussion between R A Beaumont of the Foreign Office and W N Monteith of the British Consulate General in Muscat regarding the potentially fraudulent nature of a recruiting pamphlet called 'Are You the Man?' (4)
• War Office's lack of information, and thus inability to answer questions from the Foreign Office, regarding a truck reported to be in Class II condition and the total cost of rocket launchers and 500 rounds of ammunition (6)
• Plans for Major Goddard to be released on 7 April 1960 and the necessity of him travelling back by civil tourist (7)
• Support for an increase in the entertainment allowance for the Commander of the SAF (8, 16)
• Plans for Colonel Waterfield to go to Karachi and discuss problems including difficulties regarding soldiers from Gwadur [Gwadar]. It also includes a report regarding consideration by the Sultan of Muscat and Oman Saeed Bin Taimur of appointing a pro-consul in Gwadar (9)
• Changes to the landing of vehicles for the SAF due to the loss of a Z-Craft and the suggestion to consult the shipping company Strick Line Limited to avoid complications (10)
• Pakistani acceptance of proposals regarding travel documents for members of the SAF who were recruited in Pakistan (11)
• Readiness of the Sultan of Oman to sell his boom boat to the SAF for 75,000 rupees and the question of the boat's value (12)
• Approval of a ration allowance for tracker officers in Muscat of 23 shillings per day (13)
• Agreement by Waterfield to increase the appointment of majors in the SAF (14)
• Meeting between Monteith and Lieutenant Colonel Johnson of the Dhofar Force at Salalah and comments on the Force (15)