It was considered an advantage for us that we had been attacked by Red elements, in so far as the worst enemy of the Reds was CHANG TSO-LIN. The vice-minister for Foreign Affairs took matters calmly when Baron LEIJONHUEVUD and I visited him. »Pay no attention to the attack of the opposition, » he said. »You have already got permission to set out, and besides the Government there is no authority that can stop you. Passports, arms-licenses, exemption from duty, railway-carriages — you shall have everything without needing to wait. » Everything seemed so simple when one spoke with those in power; it was only the learned world, our colleagues, scientists like ourselves, who tried to put obstacles in our way. This odium theologicum, that is so common in Europe, was after all no less rife in China. Sinister powers seemed to be at work behind the scenes. WANG YIN-T'AI's promises were certainly all too optimistic.
On March 12th we paid another visit to Dr V. K. TING, who was himself a nationalist, though of a more generous kind; he was not of those whose patriotic fervour blinds them to the importance and significance of international co-operation. TING consoled us by pointing out that the opposition was directed really not so much against myself and the expedition as against himself, WONG, ANDERSSON and The Geological Survey of China.
Meantime, Professor GRABAU wrote a brilliant article in reply to the editorial in »The Peking Leader », in which in a calm and dispassionate way he put the whole of our case in a right perspective. He showed that it could only be to the advantage of the Chinese if trained European scientists and explorers helped them to find and preserve the inexhaustible wealth of scientific treasure that lay hidden in their native soil. Especially the students had felt it to be insulting to China that I had spoken of an »expedition » in their country. »Expeditions », they opined, were carried out only among blacks and savages, not in a country with such an ancient culture as China. GRABAU now pointed out that expeditions are launched every year in America, Sweden and most other civilized countries, and that the term was therefore not in any way derogatory to China. But the opposition was at this stage so uncontrollably thin-skinned that even this courteously worded and moderate article was considered dangerous, and it was never printed.
The simplest matters become difficult and complicated where organization and discipline are lacking. It is always the struggle for power between individuals and parties that dislocates the normal order. According to Dr V. K. TING, Kuomintang would be in power in Peking within six months. We had therefore to direct our attention to two quarters, CHANG Tso-Lnv and CHIANG KAI-SHEK. It was like standing and marking time in a swamp, one foot sinking all the deeper while one lifted the other. As far as possible we took matters into our own hands and went on quietly with our preparations where we could do so without the control of the authorities. The first careless step on our part might irritate the students and precipitate mob-action.
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