"ملف ٢٨/٨ شؤون دولة مسقط: السير السيد سعيد بن تيمور - مسألة اللقب والأحرف بعد اسم السلطان: احتفالات الذكرى المئوية الثانية وموضوع الطوابع" [و‎‎٣‎٣] (٤٧٨/٦٥)

In a position to offor any serious opposition*
During the course of the interview the Sultan never
once suggested that tuny recognition private or public should ba
accorded to Saiyid Shahab bin Faisal as his successor by His
Majesty's (Government and I do not consider that any such recog
nition would at the present tima be in accordance with the Ruler's
own wishes.
At the end of our discussion on this subject His High
ness mentioned that he had recently received letters from Dhofar
and that in consequence of the news contained in them he might
possibly wish to make a further statement on this subject in the
near future. The Sultan visited his southern province in April
of this year and has a wife living there.
3. The future is doubtful f the Sultan may have a son, an
event which will probably change hi© whole outlook, or in the
course of two or three years Saiyid Tarik bin Taimur may develop
into an ideal successor, but for the time being I consider that
Saiyid Shahab bln Faisal is the most suitable choice and should
be looked upon as the future Sultan.
The history of UAiscat shows that during the last hund
red years the normal procedure has been for the ruling Sultan to
Indicate his successor before his own death. fosetlmes the
Ruler has shown his preference for a particular son or relative
by his actions and sometimes he has made a pronouncement but in
the turbulent history of the country there are many instances
of the desires and intentions of the ruler being disregarded
after his death. 4ore often than not in the past it has been
the moat powerful relative who has succeeded in establishing
himself and this is what will probably happen in the future.
tfhile the procedure remains much the same as it has
always done there has been a change in the source cfroa which
the claimant draws his strength. In the old days a claimant
who cowkanded a large following in the country and exerted the
/ most