Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-26
u. 5. 10 Keen
Hands Off in
Oman Dispute
BY EARL II. vOss

and peacefully.
No matter what the rights
and wrongs Of the case, the
dispute will only provide capital
for the enemies of the West II
the fighting is severe or even
If 1t is desultory but drawn out
Arab and Soviet propagan-
dists can team up again on
their most successful theme In
the Middle East-the dark
imperialist designs Of the West
The State Department.
eagerness to disassociate the
United States from the dispute
explains Spokesman Lincoln
Whites indignant rejection
without flrst-hand verification
incidentally-of British press
charges that America harms
are being used by Omani seek
ing to GUST the Sultan OF
Muscat from control Of the in
land areas Of the East Arabian
peninsula.
U. s. Has No Observers
Mr.. White admitted the
United States does not have
any observers in Oman. It re-
lies for its information on the
British and Saudi Arabians.
In their efforts to insulate
the United States from the
oman dispute. officials here
made three points:
l. There is no solid evidence
that American arms are being
used by, the Omani.
2. Oil is not a direct issue
in the dispute. American COM
panieS do not covet Oman oil,
II and when 1t is found in big
quantities. American COM
panies already connected with
both the Iraq Petroleum Co.,
exploring in Oman now. and
the nearby Arabian-American
Oil Co.. in Saudi Arabia, some
times accused of coveting the
oman area. The Saudis never
have claimed Oman.
The State Department has
no report of a major strike of
oil In Oman. But Saudi Ara
nian officials here believe there
has been a stable IPC strike
which its prospectors are try
ing to conceal.
They believe that one well
near Nazwa. capital of Oman, is
already producing 1000 barrels
a day. The average output of
wells in Saudi Arabia is about
LOO barrels a day. Some of
the best produce 1000 barrels a
day. But Mexican wells for
comparison. put out only about
II barrels a day.
3. Sovereignty in the Apea has
long been puzzle. Since
Oman's beginnings as a nation.
the United States has avoided
choosing sides between the ira
ditional rivals. the Sultan oC
Muscat and the Imam of Oman.
In its correspondence with the
local potentates. the State De-
partment has always addressed
them by name. rather than by
title.
Britain's relationship with
the Sultan of Muscat and Oman
is not the same as her relation
ship with other Persian Gulf
rulers. Kuwait is a British pro-
tectorate. The sultanate is not.
Technically Independent
The sultanate is technically
independent. although it has an
informal relationship with Brit
ain. On occasions in the 18th
century the Sultan called on
the British for military help in
quelling revolts.
The British merely provide
aid when asked. on a case by
case basis. But the London
Foreign Office could not issue a
visa to Muscat, as it could to
Kuwait.
The Saudi Embassy here
makes much Of this informal
relationship. and the independ-
ence OF the Sultanate of Muscat
and Oman. The Oani regayd
this as a rebellion-as an in
ternal affair in which other
sovereign states should not in
terfere.
Britain's moves to Suppress
the rebellion are as reprehens-
ible. they say. as the Soviet
Unions brutal suppression of
the Hungarian freedom fighters
revolt last November.
Oman's revolt is an internal
affair just as Hungary's was
the Saudi officials here con-
tend.
They regard the Sultan OF
Muscat and Oman as an illegal
usurper, escorted to power by
British-led forces in 1855.
Before 1855. Arab officials
say, the Imam Of Oman was
sovereign in the interior Of the
Muscat-Oman territory and the
Sultan Of Muscat controlled the
coast.
Dispute Over Imam
There is also dispute about
the functions Of the Imam of
Oman, who is now leading the
revolt. Saudis and most Mos
lens regard his as both a spir-
itual and political leader. Islam
does not differentiate between
the two. they point out. King
Saud, for instance, is both spir-
ltual and political king OF the
Saudis.
The British and most Westi
erners have always regarded
the Imam of Oman as prin.
cipally a religious leader.