Military relations between UK and Persian Gulf sheikhdoms

This file relates to British military re-organisation in the Gulf. It contains correspondence concerning:

• The background to, and ideas on, the Shell strike in Aden (51)
• Jurisdiction over members of HMG’s forces in the Gulf, with the suggestion by the Ministry of Defence that legislation be enacted to bring the position there in line with that of servicemen in other foreign countries; a position on jurisdiction reached at a meeting on 7 September 1965 at the Ministry of Defence (53-54)
• The Commander In Chief’s views on the Aden Base and this military theatre including: the defence review, the deterrent effect of seaborne armour in the Gulf and military forces in the Gulf in general; an article in The Times on the changes to British military strength in the Gulf (55)
• The Ministry of Defence’s Defence Review, and in particular comments on their plans to carry out Britain’s Gulf commitments especially in Kuwait (62)
• The attitude of the Director-General of the Government of Qatar Dr H Kamel to the proposal that offences committed by British servicemen while on duty in the Gulf States should be tried by court martial, and not by HMG’s courts (64)
• D J McCarthy’s views on the need for maintaining British forces in the Gulf, in particular seaborne tanks, for the purpose of defence against surprise attacks; an article in The Times on the removal of tanks from the region (65)
• A call by the new Commander in Chief (Middle east) on Sir R Allen, Sir B Burrows and the Secretary of State on 1 November 1965 (66)
• A comment on the possible outcome of the Defence Review from W H T Luce (68).