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I stopped the research on Saturday 24 August; on Sunday we packed and dispatched the crates of pottery etc.; on Monday we took leave of the Vali and, in the afternoon of the same day, we took the plane for Ankara. Above the mountains we had to cross a storm which made the journey disagreeable and a little risky. But everything went well and we landed around 16 hours at Ankara.
I immediately contacted the Services of Antiquities and Museums and I was able to settle everything before the start of the Bairam, during which the administrations and the banks were closed for 5 days. I deposited at the Ottoman Bank in Ankara the balance of the excavation credits: c. 160.000 frs at the current of the day.
I also discussed with the Director General of Museums and Antiquities the question of the division not provided for in the present law on antiquities. We agreed that I should write a letter to the Minister of Education national to request the allocation to the excavator of a certain number of duplicates. The change of government is opportune and perhaps it will be possible to put an end to a situation prejudicial to all the missions foreign. For this it is necessary to obtain a change in the law currently in force, but I know that the Turkish General Directorate itself would be in favour of such a change.
On the eve of our departure, I gathered the directors of the Turkish services and the president of the Turkish Society and his wife (adopted daughter of Ata Turc) with the Ambassador at a farewell dinner. The departure is fixed for Saturday 31 August.
Nicosia, 3 Sept. 1946.
The Mission landed, on Saturday 31 August, at 14 hours at the aerodrome of Nicosia, where the Director of Antiquities Mr Megaw and the curator of the Museum Mdikaios awaited us. The island's newspapers announced our arrival and rejoiced that it is a French mission which inaugurates the new period of archaeological research on the island after the war. - Health excellent, temperature still rather hot and oppressive after the pleasant coolness met at Ankara. I have just finished the purchases of equipment and of engaging an experienced foreman, Georgios, the same one I had in 1936, now assistant at the Museum of Nicosia. We found lodging in Famagusta where everything is full because of the additional officials and soldiers who are dealing with the camps of Jews brought from Palestine. We leave tomorrow, 4 September, for Famagusta.
[signature: Claude F.A. SCHAEFFER Directeur de Recherches Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique]
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