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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

tion intend to go to the two provinces, Kansu and Sinkiang, to make archaeological researches. A first expedition using camels and horses intends to leave Peking at the beginning of 1927 and to study along the road the possibility of using aeroplanes for researches in a next (second) expedition. You declared that you were engaged to do no unlawful action and to take all responsibility for any accident that might happen as a consequence of the researches. The Chinese Government in view of encouraging the archaeological investigations approves of the scheme of the first expedition, and has already instructed the respective local authorities for protection and help at their discretion. Travelling passport will be issued to you when you have forwarded to the Ministry the names and qualifications of the members of the expedition.

This is to let you know the above contents and

Wishing you good health

Wai-chiao-pu. »

All that I had desired was thus granted without reservation. Although the three ministers with whom I had already spoken had expressly stated that nothing was to be mentioned about any aeroplanes, this question is also touched upon in the Government's reply. A couple of days later the legation received General CHANG Hou-HUANG's reply to the note of the Government, in which, characteristically enough, he approved of the flying, but advised that the discussion of this question be postponed until after the preliminary expedition had been accomplished and the unrest in the country had subsided.

I sent a cable with the Government's reply to Herr MILCH of Lufthansa, and this in its turn was the signal for all the German and Swedish members to set out in all haste for Peking, via Siberia and Manchuria.

The foreign diplomats and the white residents in general, especially the members of Roy CHAPMAN ANDREWS'S great expedition, were astonished at the rapidity with which we had succeeded in getting permission for the caravan journey. Certain after-effects of the World War and the Peace of Versailles were regarded as partly responsible for this. Since Germany had been deprived of her exterritorial right, the Germans were on the same footing as the Chinese and stood under Chinese jurisdiction. When, therefore, the hatred of foreigners swept like a wave from South China northwards, the Germans enjoyed a certain measure of immunity that was denied to nationals from other great powers. This was an advantage for me, as the leader of an expedition with a predominantly German membership. Swedish citizenship was also an asset, for it was generally known that Sweden had never advanced at China's expense.

From various quarters I heard reports of the mistrust and speculation with which my intentions were discussed, especially in English circles. Very fortunately, as it happened, I knew Mr DUGDALE, the private secretary of the new British

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