Military situation and Baxendale case

This file relates to the military situation in Muscat and Oman. It contains correspondence concerning:

• End of duty tours for army personnel seconded to the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) from Pakistan (2)
• Customs privileges for British personnel seconded to the SAF (5)
• Conversation between the Sultan of Muscat and Oman Saeed Bin Taimur and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf W H T Luce about the provision of a commander of the SAF for 1967 of the rank of Brigadier (10)
• Amount and manner of payment for extra personnel for the Third Battalion of the SAF (21)

This file also relates to the arrest and court martial of Captain T S Baxendale for the assault of an Omani prisoner of the SAF. It contains correspondence concerning:

• Report on the charges against Baxendale, including a summary of witness statements and a diary of the investigation, forwarded to his solicitors Berry & Son Limited (6, 8)
• Consequences of the Sultan’s decision to not allow the entry of foreign experts in this case; Baxendale’s rejection of the advice of his solicitor and insistence that neither a normal nor consular court martial has jurisdiction, with the advice of D C Carden to try him by consular court (9, 11-12)
• Report on Baxendale and comment on the difficulties publicity of the case may raise regarding Oman at the UN (13)
• Assertion by Baxendale’s solicitors that he is being held unlawfully and the report by J R Edward-Collins on Baxendale’s defence (14)
• View of the Sultan that the interview between Baxendale and the Commander of the SAF did not constitute a summary trial (17)
• Guilty verdict in the Baxendale case and his sentence of dismissal with ignominy (19)
• Report on the outcome of the trial and further comment on publicity of the case (20)