§ 4.2 p.m.
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, with your Lordships' permission, I will again intervene to make a further report on the situation in Oman, in terms similar to those being used by my right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary in another place. Your Lordships might appreciate it if I gave some more particulars of the background to the present situation in Muscat and Oman. The Sultanate of Muscat and Oman is an independent Sovereign State. In 1913 a religious dignitary known as the Imam led a revolt 242 of some of the tribes in the interior, but in 1920 an agreement was reached at a place called Sib under which the tribes were given some autonomy but the sovereignty of the Sultan was recognised throughout the Sultanate. This agreement was broken by the tribes in the year or two prior to December, 1955, when the new Imam, with foreign help, sought to establish a separate principality. In December, 1955, the Sultan took steps to reassert his authority, and forces under his control entered the main inhabited centres of Oman, meeting no resistance. The former Imam was allowed by the Sultan to live in his village against a guarantee of his good behaviour from a local sheikh. His brother Talib escaped to Saudi Arabia and thence to Cairo. Since that time an "Oman Imamate" Office has been established in Cairo, while Cairo Radio disseminates pro-Imam propaganda.
A month or two ago there was trouble with one tribal leader. The Sultan dealt with this successfully and the leader concerned surrendered on June 14. On that same date, however, Talib, the brother of the ex-Imam, is believed to have landed again in Muscat. About the same time a quantity of arms, including light machine guns and anti-tank mines, was also landed. Talib set himself up in the mountain area north-west of Nizwa and attracted to himself something like 200 followers. He then occupied certain villages, some of which had fortifications. Loyal tribes sent to deal with Talib were unable to cope with the automatic weapons and the land mines, and Talib's followers were able to inflict a reverse on the Sultan's forces backing the loyal tribes. This enabled Talib to persuade other local tribesmen to defect. In the primitive tribal society of the region, without some active reaction from the Sultan or his friends, there was always the possibility that disaffection might spread from tribe to tribe.
It was in these circumstances that on the evening of July 16 the Sultan sent an appeal to Her Majesty's Government in the form of a letter to Her Majesty's Consul-General in Muscat. The terms of the Sultan's letter were as follows:
You have full knowledge of the situation which has now developed at Nizwa and I feel the time has now come when I must request the maximum military and air support which our friend Her Britannic Majesty's Government 243 can give in these circumstances, as on those past occasions which have so cemented our friendship and for which I bear lasting gratitude. I shall be most deeply grateful if such assistance can be given again to restore the position and to prevent further loss of ground and loss of confidence.Events are now moving so fast that I need hardly add that the speed with which support can be given will be vital to its value, and I shall be very grateful if you will take up the matter with Her Britannic Majesty's Government accordingly.The decision of Her Majesty's Government to give help to the Sultan was made for two reasons. First, it was at the request of a friendly ruler who had always relied on us to help him resist aggression or subversion. Secondly, there is the direct British interest involved, and I have no need to stress to Your Lordships the importance of the Persian Gulf. In the Gulf we have certain formal and implicit obligations to the rulers of sheikhdoms under our protection to protect them against attack. This is generally understood throughout the area and it has always been assumed that Her Majesty's Government would honour their obligations. The difference between a formal obligation and the obligations of a long-standing relationship of friendship is not readily apparent to the local rulers and people. If we were to fail in one area it would begin to be assumed elsewhere that perhaps the anti-British propaganda of our enemies had some basis to it and that Her Majesty's Government were no longer willing or able to help their friends.The present position is that Royal Air Force aircraft have taken limited action after due warning against certain military targets, namely, forts in the dissident area. They have also droped leaflets on behalf of the Sultan, and I am arranging for a summary of the contents of these to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. No United Kingdom ground forces have been engaged in operations but, as a precaution, our troops in the Persian Gulf area have been reinforced from Kenya, and a detachment of the Cameronians are at Buraimi. The Political Resident has reported that the rebellion has only small active tribal backing. The military operations are on a small scale. Casualties in the conflicts between the Sultan's forces and the rebels have been very small indeed. There have been no casualties to British forces reported.
§ Following is the Summary referred to:
§ Summary of First Leaflet
§ Talib, Ghalib and Suleiman bin Hamyar have stirred up trouble to serve their selfish ends. Necessary steps will be taken against them until they obey the Government's orders. As a demonstration aircraft will fire on selected targets after people have been warned to get out. If this is not sufficient further steps will have to be taken to punish the district harbouring the trouble-makers. The remedy is in your own hands: turn the traitors out, send your leaders to us and fly our red flag.
§ Summary of Second Leaflet
§ Omanis, you have now seen a demonstration of the fire-power of aircraft. Turn out the traitors to avoid further destruction. Omanis, your trade and prosperity are also in danger. During the last two years I have built you a new road to bring your produce to the sea, you have doctors living among you for the first time, a travelling hospital and the advice of agricultural experts. Above all, you had peace to enable you to go about your lawful business. Now the traitors have come, the road is blocked, trade is interrupted and every man goes in fear of his neighbour. Turn out the traitors and we will resume together the march towards progress and properity in peace and security.
§ Summary of Warning Leaflet
§ The Sultan of Muscat and Oman issues a warning that your fortresses will be attacked by aircraft the day after tomorrow. The object of the attack is not to destroy but to demonstrate that we have effective, powerful weapons.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged to Her Majesty's Government for making before the Summer Recess the statement for which I asked them. This matter seems to be assuming smaller proportions than at one time perhaps appeared likely, but I still feel that, in view of the plain facts which are contained in the statement just made by the noble Earl, Lord Gosford, it would be a good thing if Her Majesty's Government were officially to inform the United Nations of the action taken and the reasons for it, and put the matter forward officially. It seems to me that if we are to build up a sound United Nations view on these matters the best way to do so is to keep them fully informed of the facts and circumstances in which events have occurred, and to do so on our own initiative. I hope, therefore, that after the further consideration which must have been given to the matter since we first raised that point here (and I believe it was raised in another place) we may get a statement upon it.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, as I informed your Lordships last week, Her Majesty's Government do not feel that the situation necessitates a report to the United Nations. I will, however, gladly draw the attention of my right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary to the remarks of the noble Viscount.