CONFIDENTIAL
10/175
British Residency,
Bahrain.
23 July, 1969.
Dhofaris in the T.O.S.
In your letter NB 10/20 of 12 June, you referred to
the experienced cadres of Dhofaris and South Arabians in the
T.0.5., as an element we could probably rely upon in the
last stages of the withdrawal period. I have in fact recently
been looking at the particular problem of the Dhofaris, in
the light both of their value in the Scouts and of their
unacceptability to certain of the Trucial States Rulers.
For reasons which have never really been clear but which
were bound up with the difficulties that arose when
X Squadron of the 1.0.S. under Major Wilson was in Al Ain
some years ago, Zaid has said that Dhofaris would be
unacceptable in a Union Defence Force. Khalid of Sharjah,
who considers Dhofaris politically dangerous, can be counted
on to think the same, but Saqr of Ras al Khaimah takes the
opposite view, realising the value of these men as soldiers,
and is reported by Julian Bullard as having said that if
those in the 1.0.S. found it difficult to stay in their
present employment he would be glad to take them into his
mobile force. We have no current line on whether Rashid would
think the same as Saqr, but he might do so.
2. As to the facts, current figures show that out of a
total force strength of 1366, there are 179 Dhofaris, Of
these, 3 are officers, 2 officer cadets and 64 NÇOs; a high
proportion. Assuming that none re-engaged, there would be a
fairly steady rundown in 1970 and 1971, with a few left over
in 1972. Given Shaikh Zaid's attitude, it might be tought
reasonable to encourage these men to go as their presenu
engagements end, since if they are present in the Scouts in
1971 they might well, if the decision then were to transfer
the Scouts to the Union Defence Force, have to be weeded ou's
and discharged. On the other hand, their value to the
Scouts is considerable now and it will become increasingly
so as we approach the end of 1971. This is not only because
they include many experienced men; it is also because they
D. J. McCarthy, Esq.,
Arabian Department,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
London S.W.1.
CONFIDENTIAL
