Military relations between UK and Persian Gulf sheikdoms

This file relates to military relations between the UK and Sheikhdoms in the Gulf. It contains correspondence on:

• The reaction of the Ruler of Saudi Arabia King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud to the defence review and particularly the British withdrawal from Aden (24)
• The proposed transfer of a stockpile of military equipment from Aden to the Gulf (29)
• A defence review on Aden and the Gulf including the dates set for informing King Faisal and the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah of the decision to leave Aden and the reasons behind this decision. It also includes a memorandum on Kuwait's voting record in the UN (18)
• Redeployment of servicemen in the Gulf and the hopes of the Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi that the build-up of forces in Sharjah would result in improvements to Sharjah Airport for civil use and the use of the Sharjah Municipality Water Supply by the RAF (19)
• Hopes for an agreement on an extension of compensation for damage to property of British servicemen in the Kuwait Liaison Team, despite the Ambassador's discomfort with raising the matter with the Kuwaiti Government (20)
• Reports by newspapers of Britain's withdrawal from the Aden base and the line being taken by Whitehall departments that this is speculation (21)
• A suggestion of when to inform Sheikh Jabir Al Ahmad Al Sabah of the latest defence review relating to Kuwait (22)
• The planned movement of services from Aden to Bahrain, including the transfer of a Royal Engineer Field Squadron to the Gulf to conduct construction and the construction of a new jetty (34-35)
• Additional land and facilities to be obtained from the Rulers of Bahrain and Sharjah and the related question of the increase in rents to be paid, including the view of the Political Agent in Bahrain A D Parsons and ceiling figures from the Treasury (19, 41-43, 46)
• A paper under discussion by vice chiefs of staff on the level of war maintenance reserves to be held in the Gulf (44)
• An article from Al Talia reporting British intentions of turning Hamriya [Hamriyah] into a summer resort for the British Forces, and a request for information to pass on to the Amir of Kuwait regarding this (45)
• The submission of a draft [enclosed] for a joint paper by the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary on redeployment in the Gulf (47)
• The concerns of the Acting Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jabir Al Ahmad Al Sabah regarding the stationing of British Forces in the Gulf once the Aden base closes and comments by the Foreign Office (48).