Letter from Schaeffer to Megaw on publications on Enkomi, the calendar and excavation permitsClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

Printed: LE CASTEL-BLANC / 14, RUE TUROUT / ST. GERMAIN-EN-LAYE

8th April 1949

Dear Megaw,

As I wrote to Dikaios, the presentation of the statue, first achievement of the combined expedition, was received with great interest by the Académie. I have sent to Dikaios a copy of the communiqué given to the Press by the Academie. The creation of the new Franco-British expedition was also well received, in spite of the criticism of one or two members, who would have preferred that I went on alone at Enkomi-Alasia.

The new 2.000 pounds credit was approved for the French branch of the expedition during 1949 and I have fixed our digging season for september next. As travel and other expenses have considerably increased, I must unfortunately leave Coche behind. I would like you to ask if Dikaios were able and willing to take over the archaeological supervision of the French dig in case I were obliged to leave the expedition before the end of our season. In this case, Dikaios' travel and other expenses would be taken over by the French expedition in addition to an indemnity of one pound each workday. It certainly is not much, but that is all the French Expedition can pay (the rate for us is 1.000 frs for each pound). The finds made during the French dig are the scientific property of the French Expedition and would be published by myself. Could the good earth not be less ...

Note: the text as typed reads: "It certainly is not much, but that is all the French Expedition can pay (the rate for us is 1.000 frs for each pound). The finds made during the French dig are the scientific property of the French Expedition and would be published by myself. You were too much dumping the earth without ... Could the good earth not be..."

Corrected transcription of the remaining lines as they appear on the page:

I certainly is not much, but that is all the French Expedition can pay (the rate for us is 1.000 frs for each pound). The finds made during the French dig are the scientific property of the French Expedition and would be published by myself. You were too much dumping the earth without ... Could the good earth not be ... [illegible]

A member of my board experienced in law asked me to see the memorandum of Nov. 21st which has been accepted by the Colonial Secretary as basis for the combined undertaking. I noticed that I have no document to show except a provisional draft with no signature of the Cyprus authorities. I have been asked to put this in order. I therefore would be glad to receive a copy of the proposals signed by you. I am prepared to sign one for your archives.

The same lawyer found that our arrangement has no legal basis, because it presupposes as said in § 1 of the draft, that I hold a licence to excavate the site. In fact my license is dated Sept. 3rd 1945 and valid for two years. I do not remember it being renewed. If not, please will you take the necessary steps in order that my position in regard to the new arrangement cannot be questioned.

I notice that § 3 of the licence forbids transferrance of whole or part of my rights to a third party. That must be altered of course, in the new licence in order not to clash with our arrangements of the combined expedition.

With regard to the publication, I cannot without showing to the printer the manuscript and the plates of your contribution, get an exact estimate of the cost. But I think that since your contribution does not make a large part of the first volume (Enkomi I), the most practical arrangement would be that the French Expedition pays the production of the whole book and then sends you a copy of the bills (printer's, clicheur, etc). This will enable you to work out your share of the cost which you can then refund to the French Expedition's account at Barclay's in Famagousta. In any case it will be well below the commitment fixed by your authorities.

As I have already written to Dikaios, I can agree to a later date for sending me the manuscript of his contributions to Enkomi I (a definite account of the statue and a provisional account on his dig 1948-49). Thus he will be able to work without the feeling of