Unnumbered pageScan 13 of 41
Corinth, 26 August 1936
Dear George,
Did the drawings sent by Christo reach Philadelphia before you left? I certainly hope so and that you either have them with you now or have sent them to Episkopi. [handwritten: I should have written "Samothrace" rather than Episkopi were it not that the Greek customs cause so great delay with packages received at Piraeus.] As you know, Miss Cox returns to her work at Curium in September -- and will be needing the drawings. I hope that she will stop for a day or two in Athens on her way but she may take the direct line from Trieste or Brindisi to Cyprus. If they are still to be sent have them go directly to Episkopi, to Christo or Gregoriou to make sure of no difficulty about delivery if Miss Cox happens not to have arrived. In any case please let me know about the drawings. I thought when I last heard -- about the 20th, she thought that she will stop for a day or two in
I received a letter yesterday from Mr. Megaw, the new Director of Antiquities, saying that the Government hesitates to go on with the expropriation of the hill of Curium -- an agreement with owners for the £180 from the Govt. £120 from us) having proved impossible -- lest the courts award a larger sum than the £180, and the Govt. be forced to pay the difference. This they would like us to guarantee so that it may not come out of Govt.
we suggested £180 in the first place, £120 from us and £60 from the Govt., on the basis of the Commissioner's experts' valuation (which I thought, and still think, high), reckoning that the Govt. might fairly contribute one third to our two thirds. If it turns out that the costs are higher than expected my opinion is (that is, you), and if you agree I will so propose to the Govt., 2/3 to us, 1/3 to the Govt. On this point the excess should at least be prorated, and if you agree I will so propose. On this point I count on having an answer by air so that I may reply to Megaw as soon as may be.
we are having the usual experience with the Chrysostomides. Zeno is ready to sign a proper lease; Evagoras wants special concessions to himself -- his last proposal (that wherein you dwell) for the use of the other house (that wherein he has to reside in Episkopi -- and Mr. Christo have written that he will not for the rental up a bit. We shall leave the any circumstances vacate the storerooms, and that we shall leave the upper rooms only under absolute legal compulsion. Christobegs us not not to consent to leave away, would be ruined if Evagoras took temporary now looking very well, we did last summer (when he had a great number of people working over carobs). I also wrote Christo that the other house possession as he did last summer. Probably he will not write you on the subject; but, if you think it worth the risk and if Demosthenes consents, it might pay to lend Pete's room and the kitchen, provided we can by this bribe get Evagoras's signature, actually, I suspect!
Far too many ifs and provisos, I suspect.
Kind regards to Mr. Wyeth.
Ever sincerely yours,
Handwritten: signature
65 figures hard to readstruck struck outadded written in above” jug ditto, and what it repeatsword reading not certain