'File 8/62 Muscat State Affairs: Principal Shaikhs and Tribes of Oman' [‎36r] (71/296)

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latter returned to Sakl. To what extent ShalVh Ise will be capable
of counter measures is difficult to eay, but tbe situation in the in
terior is likely to remain uneasy.
4* Ibe unification of the State under his rule has always been
the Sultan's chief objective, and hie lack of weans of achieving
it, his greatest dlsappoint’r.ent. With the State now in possession
of substantial financial reserves, the position has changed and it
seems likely that for some time past he has been giving a good deal
of thought to the fulfilment cf his ambition. His anxiety to se
cure the services of a competent adviser, his avarice over money,
hie desire to avoid a change in his Military Adviser at the present
tlir.e, his request for lorries of military pattern for his levies to
stand up to bad reads, his attentions to increasing his anaotay,
his interest in wireless equipment and his recent efforts to obtain
from the Americans at SsJ.ol&h and Masirah any Military transport
they xaight wish to &m!t% of, can in ay view be nso ,t easily understood
if they arc considered as being the preliminary stage in his prepara
tions. The second stage - the croation of a fifth column - appears
now to he well under weigh, and the third stage - the actual occupa
tion of the strategic points in Ha jar - is apparently planned to take
place isnediately news of the death of Iiasr. is received.
5* Fro*a the Sultan's profai^nce for the ease and coafort of his
retreat at Iftiofar and Me previous apathy towards the administrative
affairs of the State, it might be considered as unlikely that he
would be capable of suscaonlng the necessary energy to achieve his aim.
When, during a recent conversation on this subject, I interjected
that all this would appear to mean that ho could no longer retire
for long periods to Salalah, he agreed at once and added that if
event* developed favourably he would be content with only, short
visits to at Lend to his affairs there. He had, he said, in any
case postponed bis departure to Dhofar until the end of December,
arid thought it uiilikely that be would **vsn return then. No more
forceful indication of his enthusiasm could, of course, have been
given1
6. The Sultan’s Intention of attempting to unify his State raises
certain important questions of policy which rmj be considered in the
light cf th© following pointsi
(a) The Sultan has more than once hinted that he will expect
assistance from His Majesty's Government.
(t) It is not impossible that matters my come to a head be
fore the end cf the r;ar.
(c) Any overt efforts tc discourage the Sultan from the present
intentions/-