Letter from Schaeffer to Dikaios about the next season in CyprusClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

13 May 1946

My dear Friend,

I confirm my letter of 11 March by airmail, to which I have received no reply. Now, as you had not given me your brother's address in Lyon, I could not write to him directly. If he has not already left, an opportunity arises on 10 June next for Beirut by the 'André Lebon'. I am embarking on that ship too, together with my collaborators. Reply by return, or tell your brother to request a passage directly to Lyon or Marseille.

Of course, I still hope he will be willing to join my Mission or, if he has already reached Cyprus, to come and help us there.

I forgot to say in my letter that the Mission of course bears the cost of food and lodging for its collaborators in addition to their salary.

I hope therefore to be able to begin my excavations at Enkomi rather earlier than I told you in my previous letter. Here is my programme. I think I shall be in Beirut (address Hotel St. Georges) around 20 June and leave around 27/28 for Ankara. I expect to finish my research at Malatya towards the end of August and will then go straight to Cyprus, either directly from Turkey if there is a connection, or via Beirut.

I hope therefore to shake your hand in the first days of September and to be able to work then at Enkomi in September and October. It will still be hot, but I think it will be bearable. I hope this date suits you and that you can attach to my mission Jeorgios, the excellent foreman and preparer who helped me last time at Enkomi.

I shall bring with me one of the architects from Ras Shamra, Paul Pitronin, and an archaeologist-assistant, Coche de la Ferté, who worked with the Franco-American Mission at Antioch (Campbell). Both of them, after fighting against the Germans, were prisoners during the war.

I shall write to you en route from Beirut and Ankara, where my address is: Embassy of France. As soon as the dates are closer, I shall also announce myself to Sir Charles Woolley, the kind governor who gave me such a good welcome when I passed through with you during the war.

My respectful regards to Madame Dikaios, and cordially to you,

Handwritten: signature

Mr P. Dikaios, Curator of the Archaeological Museum, NICOSIA.