“DIM-OUT” ON NEWS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28346, 3 August 1957, Page 13

“DIM-OUT” ON NEWS

British Aims Questioned

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 2. British and American correspondents, who had been trying for the last 10 days to tell the story of the Oman skirmish, had noted with interest, but without surprise, a Foreign Office denial in London that any news blackout had been imposed by the British authorities, “The Times” said today in a dispatch from Bahrein. Clearly, it depended on whal was meant by a blackout, but an ’ R.A.F. spokesman had admitted that there was a “dim-out,” “The Times” said. No-one would contend that no official news had been made available, but there was a strong feeling that what had been offered had sometimes been false and often subject to undue delay and confusion, and that what had not been offered covered too wide an area. Three serious cases of misinformation occurred last week, “The*Times” said. First correspondents were told in. Bahrein that the Cameronians .had arrived in Bahrein from Kenya, only to discover 24 hours later that they had gone direct to Sharjah, v Izki Incident Second, it was announced in positive terms, .that the Sultan’s red .flag had .been seen at Izki last Friday and that because of this, all further military operations were to be suspended. This statement was quickly withdrawn in favour of an informal statement emphasising that the suspension was only for a matter of a day or two, and that the flag had not been positively identified. Third, it came to light two days later that the suspension had been planned all along, and had nothing to do with the flag. These might seem small points, but this was only a small war and confusion in such matters hardly inspired confidence in Other official pronouncements. “The; Times” said. Several questions remained unanswered. “What positive identification is there of the arms and money said to have been supplied to the Oman rebels, and why has it not been offered?” “The Times” asked.

“How is it that, in spite of the .Trucial scouts and the virtual British administration of the Trucial coast, arms were apparently successfully run from Saudi Arabia into Oman for some months through the Trucial coas’ and how is it none of them have been captured? -Terms For Aid

“Why is the Sultan of Muscat and Oman able, as it seems, to call upon British help without the British Government naming any terms for that help, even to the extent of pressing upon the Sultan the need for some independent observation of what is going on? “Will any correspondents be allowed to accompany the British forces if they enter Muscat territory?

“It is possible, and one hopes probable, that there are satisfactory answers to these questions and others, but until they are forthcoming the Foreign Office eannot expect correspondents to ait meekly in Bahrein reporting only what little it chooses to tel) them,” said “The Times.”

Nawab Prefers Sussex.—The Nawab of Pataudi, who is attending Winchester School, nas declined an invitation to play county cricket for Worcestershire. His father, who represented both India and England in test matches, played for Worcestershire before the war. The young Nawab has told Worcestershire that he hopes to play fot •Sussex.—London, August 1.