was shown this document while on a visit to Dr TING and Dr WONG. It had been signed by 12 learned societies, universities and institutions, and was to the effect that a European enterprise, aiming to take out of China archaeological and other objects of inestimable value, must be nipped in the bud. The petition had been sent to WONG, with a demand for his signature. For two reasons Dr WONG was the object of the opposition's envy and ill-will: first, because he had negotiated with ANDERSSON and myself, without consulting other scientific institutions, and second, because The Geological Survey of China was generally considered to be the best organized scientific institution in Peking, and directed according to the most modern European principles. The initiative for the action against us was laid at the door of the two university professors SHEN CHIEN-SSU and MA HENG, both archaeologists. On the advice of Dr TING I wrote to the first mentioned of the two, suggesting a meeting at which the fate of my expedition might be discussed. I wrote this letter at TING's dictation. It was diplomatically and politely worded. TING knew how to handle his countrymen, and I relied blindly on his judgment. To try to force one's way with an uncompromising tone does not pay in China. One simply gets nowhere, and only irritates one's opponents to intensified resistance. During the whole campaign I used soft and conciliatory words, and found that this method was in the long run the only possible course.
We were, however, forestalled, for the following day we received an invitation to a meeting from the opposition, and our letter was accordingly not sent. This seemed to indicate a gleam of hope. But in the press the expedition had still to run the gauntlet. The volubility of the tavern politicians rose into crescendo, but I remained silent. The staffs of the legations and other Europeans considered the position hopeless and regarded me as a beaten hero.
I had a constant stream of visitors. Mr YUNG came with new greetings from WELLINGTON Koo and WANG YIN-T'AI and assured me that I could rely on their support. I was told that it was not so much a matter of a scientific opposition to my expedition as of a student action directed against the Government. YUNG dropped one or two hints about the reigning confusion in the different branches of the administration, and asked what one could expect of officials who had not drawn their salaries for a year or more. He therefore considered it hopeless to wait for the promised licenses for bearing arms. To my request for duty exemption for our equipment, on the other hand, I received a reply from the Minister for Finance in an uncommonly short time. This was to the effect that as Roy CHAPMAN ANDREWS had always had to pay customs fees, I must also be prepared to do the same. The fees were said to comprise 21/2 per cent of the value of the goods. He asked for specific lists of the contents of our packing cases.
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