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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

in Peking were followed and spied upon wherever they went. It was thought that in collaboration with Russia we were intriguing against the British hegemony in East Asia.

On the advice of the German Minister, Major v. DEWALL wired to the Minister of Transport in Berlin: »Cannot take sole responsibility for the German staff, especially not for those who are left for indefinite period at inland stations with country seething as at present. » I was therefore perfectly prepared for Lufthansa to recall the German members of the expedition and wind up the whole enterprise. But even this blow was not sufficient to shake Lufthansa's determination.

After conferring with Major SCHAUMBURG and Herr WILHELM SCHMIDT, Lufthansa's representatives in China, I sent a telegram to Lufthansa, declaring that we could not share Major v. DEwALL's pessimistic view. Everything was quiet in Peking and we had only to go ahead.

The fate of the expedition had hung by a hair on more than one occasion. Dr V. K. TING told me that WELLINGTON Koo had asked him, some little time before, if he did not think it was time to throw the expedition overboard. TING had replied: »Nothing of the sort! You have given Dr HEDIN permission to travel and you would lose face before the whole world if you did so. Let him know that you would like him to come to terms with the opposition! »

MEETING WITH THE OPPOSITION

On the afternoon of April 2nd we had a meeting with the opposition in one of the rooms of the university. Professor ANDERSSON and I had produced a written reply to the fifteen points. Among those present were emu, the former governor, Professor LIV Fu, Professor Sm PING-CH'ANG, and professor Li, who occupied the chair of the history of literature.

My suggestion that I should read out my type-written document point by point, debating each point as we came to it, was accepted with acclamation.

The committee in Peking was to be not merely nominal, but should be responsible to the Government and the provincial officials. It was to be a guiding body at the present stage, and later on it would be an established institution, safeguarding the progress of the work.

The question of the respective ranks of the two leaders was a matter that could easily be arranged.

The question of the expedition's finances had been so formulated by us that they were simply unable to put any questions or make any comments. They were tactful enough to pass this by in silence.

The Chinese staff, which according to their proposal would consist of fifteen, must be reduced, I told them, to seven. When they heard that I on my side

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