OMAN

HC Deb 01 May 1961 vol 639 cc902-3

40. Mr. D. Healey

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the recent discussions between officials of Her Majesty's Government and representatives of the Imam of Oman.

Mr. Heath

I welcome this opportunity of drawing attention to the statement which I made in answer to a Written Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Derby, South (Mr. P. Noel-Baker) on 15th March, to which I have nothing to add.

Mr. Healey

But does not the Lord Privy Seal really agree that it is an absurd anachronism that British troops should be supporting a local ruler in Southern Arabia in what is purely a personal and private war? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether any serious discussions are under way with the Government of Saudi Arabia and other interested Governments in order to solve the problem in the Buraimi oasis, which is really the key to the whole of the British policy in Southern Arabia?

Mr. Heath

First of all, there are no British troops permanently stationed in Oman. The Sultan has his own forces there. As is known, we give some assistance to him both for civil development and for the purposes of his forces. The Buraimi oasis is not the key to this problem; there are two separate problems. With a view to finding a solution to the problem there were these talks earlier in the year to which I referred in my statement, which were broken off at the time by the rebels. If the rebels say they are prepared to begin them again I am sure that we would welcome a solution.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Will the Lord Privy Seal secure the publication of the Treaty of Sib on which the relations of the Imam of Oman to the Sultan of Muscat are based? Since we have twice sent British troops into battle in support of the Sultan, is it not desirable that we should know what the Treaty contains?

Mr. Heath

The treaty is an internal document of the Sultan of Muscat covering the internal arrangements between him and the Shiekhs responsible in that area.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Since we have twice sent British troops into battle in alleged support of the arrangements contained in the document, ought we not to know what the document says?

Mr. Heath

It is a very much wider question than sending troops into Oman in support of an internal arrangement. That is not the question at all.

Mr. Healey

Is it not the case that the whole issue is whether or not the Sultan of Muscat has sovereignty over the Imam of Oman? Is not the Lord Privy Seal aware that the British Government have repeatedly given armed support to the Sultan in pursuing his claim to sovereignty, and is it not the right hon. Gentleman's duty to publish to the House, so that the country may know whether, in fact, the claim which the Government are supporting is a just one?

Mr. Heath

There is no question about the sovereignty of the Sultan of Muscat and Oman over the whole country of the Imam of Oman. The Treaty of Sib deals with internal arrangements under that sovereignty.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

What have the Government to hide by refusing publication of this Treaty?

Mr. Heath

The Government have nothing to hide.