Letter from Schaeffer to Megaw on the excavation plots still to be dugClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

Le Castel Blanc, le 2 juin 1947 14 rue Turgot, St. Germain en Laye

Dear Mr. Megaw,

I am back from a forthnights visit to your country and was on the point to reply to your letters of April 21st and May 1st, when I got your message dated May 21st with the much higher demands for the land.

I think it is therefore wise to postpone the purchase of a car and the building of an expeditionhouse at Enkomi until I can see how much I have to set aside for the land.

In this connection here is my opinion. 1. I don't think it is possible to postpone lying in the hope the values will fall. The peasents now know our intentions and try to get the maximum of us in any case. 2. The demands being extortionate in the opinion of the IHS departement, we can't buy at these prices. 3. We should demand compulsory acquisition, arbitration and if necessary to court. The case is clear and the IHS department suggests this course. These powers are provided for such cases when unreasonable demands prevent purchase of land for disinterested purpose.

I am ready to accept the rise of adverse effect on the relation with the villageres. Enkomi villageres were in the minority in the dig, simply because they were too lazy and obstructive. I worked better with the people of Ayios Sergios and the neighbouring places. Once we are owner of the land we can get rid of the Enkomi people if they are not reasonable. Last year I had to keep some very old or lazy fellows because they were parents or friends of the landowners. If we show a firm hand and do not pay all what these people ask, they will come round for the wages also which were also excessive last year: 12 to 13 shillings a man.

I therefore would suggest that you may ask on behalf of the expedition and with your support, as your department will share in the cost, that powers may be invoked to buy the following plots: 261, 263, 330, 333, 552.

I also suggest that we buy forthwith plots 260 and 264 to show that we mean business.

Thank you for having obtained the decouville.

Wishing you and Mrs Megaw a happy holyday and aurevoir later. Anitiós for Dikaios.

Yours Sincerely

Handwritten: signature

M. A. H. Megaw, Director of the Department of Antiquities Nicosia, Chypre