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

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

Yours sincerely

Wishing you and Mrs Megaw a happy holyday and surveyor later. Anthea for Dimitrios.

Thank you for having obtained the deeeville.

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

I therefore would suggest that you may ask on behalf of the expedition and with your help, as your department will share in the cost, that powers may be invoked to buy the following plots: 261, 262, 330, 333, 352.

I can only accept the risk of adverse effect on the relation with the villagers. Indeed villagers were too lazy and obstructive, simply because they were too lazy and obstructing. I noticed both with the people of Ayios Yeorgios and the neighbouring plateau. Thus we are owners of the land so we can get rid of the Idiomi people if they are not reasonable. Last year I had to keep some very old or lazy followers because they were friends or friends of the landowner. 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.

In this connection, bearing in mind my opinion, I don't think it is possible to postpone buying in the hope the videos will fall. The possible now know our intentions and try to get the maximum of us in any case. 2. The demands being considered in the opinion of the Dept. [illegible] we can't buy at these prices. 3. We should demand compulsory acquisition, arbitration, if necessary to court. The case is clear and the Dept. [illegible] expresses this concern. These powers are provided for such cases when unreasonable demands prevent purchase of land for dissertation purposes.

I am back from a fortnight's visit to your country and was on the point to reply to your letters of April 25th 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 expedition at Dhiromi until I can see how much I have to set aside for the land.

Dear Mr. Megaw,

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