Letter from Schaeffer to Neumann on the Ras Shamra and Enkomi missions and the remaining excavation creditClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

After the elections (fixed for 4 Nov.) and if there is no disturbance I shall be able to clarify my research by soundings, an elastic term meaning excavations. Of these last I have made soundings with teams of 300 men.

I am therefore optimistic. The essential point is that despite the general refusal opposed to all requests for excavations on the English and American side, I have succeeded in maintaining the privileged treatment for the Ras Shamra Mission, which has made enough sacrifices and disappointments in the past to deserve it. We shall therefore regain a foothold at this site, precious above all, and once on the spot, I am sure that it will work.

Obviously we must work under the threat of the first winter rains (the real rainy season is only in January and February). There is then, as we experienced last year, as the only means of liaison with Lattakia, supply centre, than the Jeep, 4-wheel drive. Our pre-war Chevrolet car having been wrecked during the war and in any case having been unable to serve us in these conditions, I therefore had to buy a Jeep, price 8.000 pounds including costs. This serious drain on my credit for this year (39.920 L.lb., see my note of 25 August) is not very opportune, all the more so as it is still necessary to draw c. 8900 pounds to obt. hir the 1000 pounds needed for Bnkomi. It will thus leave me about to receive for Ras Shamra from this year's credit: 29.920 Ltv.L. less 8900 := 21.000 L.L. With the 2000 pounds which currently remain in cash, that will do for one campaign which in any case cannot last more than two months, in the field.

Balance of excavation credit, budget 1949. - I take the opportunity to ask you whether you have received my note of 20 August handed to Mr Bouchet before my departure concerning the use of the balance of the excavation credits of 1949. Do you agree with my proposals to distribute them among the missions of Tanta, Byblos (Deir el Mediniet), Dorasse and Mamilli. This is indeed what the Commission had considered doing if the budget situation allows it, and this will free for us the 1950 budget which, with the excavations in Anatolia and Crete etc. that must be set in motion, risks being terribly burdened.

I hope that you have also since been able to send the 11.100 L. tur. due to Mr Gabriel for the excavations at Yazilikaya.

A word from you on these questions would reassure me.

The weather here is hot but less humid than usual and as we sleep practically in the open air at the excavations among our treasures, it is bearable. I have still received no mail from the registry office since my departure. It is still the holiday season in France and I think that things are still slowed down. My address for mail to the excavation sector by diplomatic bag goes via the French Legation at Beirut. For Enkomi and Ras Shamra, you could save time by writing to me directly, poste restante Famagusta, Cyprus.

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