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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

struggle for power between different parties was no light task, and I soon realized that I should need all the diplomacy and patience I could muster.

While Professor ANDERSSON and I concentrated chiefly on the scientific line, having in Dr WONG our most powerful advocate, our own Minister, OSCAR EwERI,öF, was my counsellor and support in negotiations with the Government and other authorities. Our first visit was to Dr WELLINGTON Koo, to whom we gave a detailed account of the whole plan. To the first part of the plan, the caravan journey, he had nothing to object, but he thought that the military authorities would probably take exception to the flying. He asked for an account of the plan in writing. This was drawn up and submitted after a couple of days.

On December 4th EwERLöF and I paid a visit to the Minister of Aviation, CHANG HOU-HUANG, who took up the idea of an air-line between China and Europe with the liveliest interest. A Chinese officer should take part in a first trial flight, although great caution was called for in tracts belonging to FENG YÜ-HSIANG'S sphere of interest, where Chinese participation might jeopardize the whole enterprise. He also considered that the preliminary caravan expedition was not without risk of interference from FENG's side, and advised an escort. Finally, he asked me not to mention a word about the flying until after the conclusion of the preliminary expedition. If it came to the ears of the press and thus to the public we should be made the objects of suspicion and meet with great difficulties.

Among the political precautionary measures that had to be observed was the giving up of the idea of establishing four permanent wireless stations in the interior of Asia. This relieved me of one worry, for wireless stations would have required a special staff of experts and additional expenses. Such stations would in any case have been of value only in connection with a permanently organized air-line, and as the Government stipulated that the flying part of our scheme was not to be brought up at all, the wireless question lapsed automatically. I was informed, moreover, that the United States and Japan were just then competing for concessions for wireless stations in China.

EXPEDITION SANCTIONED BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

On December 3oth we paid another visit to the vice-minister for Foreign Affairs, WANG YIN-T'AI, who now and in the sequel proved to be a real friend of the expedition. He explained that it would now not be long before the official permit for the preliminary expedition arrived. He kept his word, and on January 1st 1927 the reply of the Government was sent to the Swedish legation. It was translated by WONG WEN-HAO as follows:

»According to the scheme of your expedition sent by the Swedish Minister and yourselves, a party of Swedish and Chinese scientists including specialists of avia-

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