国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

»Collections and scientific observation material, maps and notes, diaries and photographs must be handed in to the committee, and only when the whole material has been inspected and authorized may it be published in the name of the committee, with a sub-title giving the names of the Chinese and foreign authors. If diaries, notes and maps contain anything of a secret character, e. g. military information, the manuscript will be withheld by the committee until the secret is no longer a secret.»

If one remembers that meteorology was reckoned among the military secrets it is easily seen that the door was thus left open for all sorts of arbitrary prohibitions. That detail maps of certain strategically important points must be kept secret, and that foreigners should as a general rule be forbidden to chart such tracts was only natural. But in those parts of the deserts and mountains of innermost Asia where we desired to work there could scarcely be said to be any strategical points; and one can in any case only speak of the strategical importance of such points in a country which possesses troops for the defence of its distant provinces.

»The archaeological collections are to be given into the keeping of the committee in their entirety. After due examination the committee can then decide whether less valuable or indeterminate objects may be handed over to Dr SVEN HEDIN. The same applies for the palaeontological collections. Other objects, e. g. geological, zoological or botanical, may be so treated that Dr HEDIN receives duplicates. All objects that are presented to Sweden should be preserved in a reputable public museum, and it must then be clearly stated that they have been presented by the Union of Scientific Societies.»

»Permission to carry out excavations in certain tracts where the mission desires to work will be granted on condition that no large monuments, ancient relics or temples are destroyed or damaged. »

»Old and valuable objects of art, such as bronze vases or porcelain, may not be bought by any member for his own account. Coins and less valuable relics may, however, be acquired. The members may not commission merchants or other agents to purchase objects for private accounts. No collections are to be taken out of China without permission. So, for example, nothing may be sent from Sinkiang via the Siberian railway.»

»The route that the committee has laid down for the mission must not be altered in the course of the journey. The time for the duration of the mission is limited to two years, reckoned from the co-directors' start from Peking. »

»The maps made by the mission must not be drawn to a larger scale than I:300,000. » »All observations and finds are to be numbered and registered every day by the Chinese members. »

I listened quietly and without protest while Professor Liu Fu read out these fifteen points, and noted them down in the form in which I have quoted them above. When he had finished I said coldly: »This is a Peace of Versailles that you want to impose on me ».

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