National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

ologist from Sweden and a couple from China I could not take back to Sweden any archaeological collections at all. In that case I would rather drop archaeology altogether and send BERGMAN home.

Wong: Have a friendly and quiet talk with the representatives of the opposition. I am sure you can get them to concede you duplicates. They have already agreed to let you have duplicates in geology.

I:      Good. But one point more: I cannot agree to publication taking place
in Peking.

Wong: Rest easy, it can't take place here. Propose the following condition: if you can publish the results two to three years after the conclusion of the expedition you may do so; otherwise I am to have the right. Say further that everything that is clearly of a purely scientific nature must be free for printing without further control, but that anything that is considered to be of military importance may be investigated by the committee. When it afterwards comes to the point you will find that this clause can be made very elastic.

I:      If they press me too hard I shall return home. There may be no limit
to my patience, but there certainly is for my dignity.

Wong: Try to reassure them by saying that you accept their fifteen articles provisionally but that you want to discuss a number of details with them or their representatives. This document they have sent you is really only intended to show people how well they have fought for China's interests. But actually the articles are very elastic, and you may accept the proposal without hesitation. You will find that the Chinese in the field are very pleasant and agreeable to have to do with and everything will turn out well. If you think that five Chinese scientists are too many I will drop one of the geologists and only give you CHAO. Another important question concerns the salaries of the Chinese staff. Next time you speak with the opposition begin by fixing the salaries of the Chinese participants. And be generous to them. Then they will be content and dependent on you — and you will have the whip hand of them. Otherwise they will be dissatisfied and self-willed. If you settle the question of salaries in a way that satisfies the Chinese participants, the other issues will be much easier to resolve. I know that there are a number of gentlemen who want to accompany you. You will have noticed that the matter of salaries is not touched upon in the fifteen articles. This is because they are ashamed to speak of the question in writing. Clear up this matter with them orally first of all!

I      I have a written reply ready, but I feel it is easier to speak of these
things than to write about them. The written word is twisted and misunderstood. Now I have let them wait for several days. Yesterday I

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