WORLD'S GREATEST OIL POOL British troops used in Oman to protect mono EOS ALON of oil profits is the aim of the British jets and British-officered troops being used in Oman. This ‘does not only include potential profits. from oil finds in Central Oman, but also those from the world’s greatest known oil pools at Kuwait and Bahrein. For ever since Suez, when, in Kuwait and Bahrein, oppo- sition to British 19th century gunboat methods was clearly shown, the British govern- ment has been — nervously aware of the increasing Arab national independence move- ment in these Persian Gulf oil States. In Kuwait the local opposi- tion to the pro-British ruler is so strong that three Oppo sition leaders have been sent to exile on St. Helena. Anxiety over Kuwait is not surprising. From no oil output pre-war and a relatively small one by 1946, production had soared to 55 million tons by 1956, with huge reserves. xt xt $e And 50 percent of the Ku- wait oil profits go to British Petroleum, the other half to an American oil giant, Gulf Oil Company. Now the government fears that unless it takes “strong action” over the fighting in Oman, pro-British Persian Gulf rulers will “lose faith”. So Sir Bernard Burrows, the British political the Persian Gulf — headquar- ters Bahrein — was hurriedly recalled from holiday and sent flying back to his terri- tory. The British consul-gen- eral at Muscat comes under him. Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd presents the interven- tion by force in Oman as help to an old ally against unruly subjects, aided in re- volt from the outside. Elsewhere ‘ the fighting in Oman is depicted as a conflict between a political and a spiritual ruler. Here are the facts: it $e es - Oman, its predominently Arab population estimated at 550,000, with a 1,000-mile coastline, first had-an inde- pendent Imam ruling an in- land area around his capital, Nizwa, in the middle of the eighth century. The country is by nature di- vided into a coastal plain, ranging from ten miles wide _ to almost nothing; a range of hills in which Nizwa is sit- uated; and a desert plateau stretching into Saudi Arabia. For centuries the Sultans of Muscat ruled no more than the coastal plain. In the past hundred years their grip on that. has only been upheld ' against their own subjects by the repeated use of British troops and British guns. resident in~- Ababa ft oe ® In 1913 the Arabs in a large area around Nizwa again rose and organized an independent government in the interior under an elected Imam. Once again British troops prevented the Sultan — the present Sultan’s father — from being completely ousted. But for 40 years — until 19 months ago, in fact — the Imam ruled in Central Omam, both as political lead- er and as Moslem religious head. On the throne at Muscat (capital: Muscat Town with 5,900 population) is 46-year- old Sultan Said Bin Taimur, 13th ruler in a dynasty going back to 1744. He has ruled. . as a pro-British puppet for 25 years, has one son, 16-year- old Quabus. Imam of Omam since the twenties is Ghalib*Bin Ali, who 37 years ago signed an agreement with the 13th Sul- tan. . Until about 20 years ago ~ the occupations of Muscat and Omam consisted of grow- ing dates, limes and pome- granites — for export use, and breeding of camels in the interior. Oil came on the scene in 1937, when an Iraq Petroleum Company subsidiary got a 75 year concession on oil explor- ation» for the whole Omam area. Six years ago the IPC firm dropped its concession for the southwestern part of the coun- try, and four years ago two U.S. oil firms, Cities Services and Richfield Oil Company, jointly took up this conces- sion. poly profits _ BAHREIN Teuciat WWAD ISLAND: oman OMANT? ladiwen Conc | FIA ee Early test drills by the IPC subsidiary proved unsuccess- ful. But in recent years the Omam mountains were thought more and more likely to provide a find, and oilmen started exploration. there. That was when the Imam’s existence as an independent anti-imperialist ruler became inconvenient. The existence of independ- ent Oman was considered a threat to the security of Brit- ish oilmen who were working near the unmarked frontier between Oman “and Saudi Arabia. : Iraq Petroleum Company is one quarter owned by British . Petroleum. And over half the shares of British Petroleum are held by the British govern- ment. ‘So in late 1955, the Sultan’s British - officered and. British- equipped Muscat Field Force —partly paid by the IPC sub- sidiary—forced the Iman from power and drove his younger brother, Taleb Bin Ali, into exile, The Iman’s removal offered more oil profits, not only from eventual finds in Centrai Oman, but also from finds in the Rub Al Khali (“Empty quarter” of the Great Desert), where the Oman-Saudi Arab- ian frontier is undefined; a longstanding source of claim and counter-claim. ‘ On the Saudi-Arabian side Aramco — fourth largest U.S. oil firm — has sole oil rights. —LANCE SAMSON Farmers better off? ROY REID, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: It made this old farmer mad to read Jimmy Gardiner’s- remark that “the farmers of Saskatchewan are better off than they ever;were before.” Yet, thinking it over, of course We are enjoying a high- ‘er standard of living. If we could only forget that the farm we bought (a bargain from our neighbor who had quit) is not paid for yet. If we could only pay the lumber company for the material used to store the grain we can’t sell. If we could be sure the old tractor can be kept in repair until we have the cash to make a first pay- ment on the new one we need. If the young people would quit deserting rural life on all sides of us.. ~ Oh yeah! Jimmy was right, We farmers are better off all round. We have all things big- ger, better and more efficient — even our debts and those wh6 collect them. The toiling farmers, the town and city workers, the old age pensioners and. other groups should unite in their crganizations. They, the people who work or have worked for > ea living, should cooperate in taking action to get our new government to make a fairer distribution of the wealth our automatic machinery is able to produce in such abundance. Unless this is done we may again. (as in the Hungry Thirties) find ourselves facing want in the midst of plenty. We need our radio, TV and our press freed from’ capitalist control. Above all else the Canadian people need a farm- labor paper that is free from the corrupting influence of big business advertising. Pamphlet suggested JOSEPH PODOVINIKOFFE, Hilliers, B.C.: I am sending in two more subscriptions to your paper, which has become a message of hope to our Douk- hobor people. Enclosed you will find $8 for the subs. and $2 for extra copies of the paper carrying Bert .Whyte’s articles on the Doukhobors. Something is prompting me to ask you friends whether you would consider Whyte put all his material in pamphlet or booklet form, if we would help in financing and distribution. By putting a price on the booklet we can get enough to cover the cost of production, I feel sure; be- cause there will be a demand for from 5,000 up to 10,000 copies. Since the lid is now lifted on the Doukhobor question, the stink of Social Credit policy will spread across the land. OPEN FORUM having Mr. — Prizewinning letters Each week. the Pac fic Tribune will present a book to the writer © the most interesting, e2 - tertaining and__ topical letter published on this page. Contributors até urged to keep their let ters to a_ reasonable length. The prize-winning let ter in our last issue was written by L.A., Vaile cauver, B.C. a No ordinary date T. BARDAL, Ruskin, B.C The,40th anniversary of the October Revolution will be celebrated this year all ovel the world. In. particular, with enthusiasm in the first socials land, and in those countries that have embarked on. tf path towards socialism. However, in our part of the world, where the goal has ¥® to be realized, that greatest ° all events in- human_ histo! the “ten days that shook the world” should be observed 4 a manner deserving of its 1” portance. This also affords a splendid opportunity” for focussing ae tention on the accomplish ment of the socialist sector © | the world, In preparation for the bié day there should be broad ° operation between interest® and sympathetic groups 4” organizations. Progressive at j tural groups should be invilé to contribute to the progra™ and local talent utilized to fullest» extent. Let us show the ‘hate Com munism” crowd that Novel ber 7 is not just an ordinal) date in the calendar —t re we recognize it for what it ES the birth of the New Era, or dawn of the brotherhood 2 dignity of man, a date to honored as no other in the 10u8 struggle of the common peoP™ for justice and equality, Fire prevention H. S. BIRD, Chief, Vanco” ver Fire Department: Ea year the Vancouver Fire *” partment conducts an exte™ sive fire prevention’ educatl® campaign, in an effort to We duce the enormous loss of We and property due to carele® fires. We are endeavoring to maké this campaign a community project, and we would appre?! ate any assistance you 0?” give in publicizing Fire a vention Week, October 6 to Is inclusive, August 9, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE *|