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… there was a sine qua non condition on the part of Damascus. I promised to study the question of the division of the tablets on my return, but I pointed out that it will be difficult to make the division at Damascus as the Syrian authorities wish. As for the objects from Ras Shamra and Mari whose study and repairs are completed, it is possible to return them through the Syrian Legation in Paris. After then setting out for me the provisions of the new law on antiquities, which no longer provides for division except for duplicates, Mr Menaged informed me of the costs that the Ras Shamra Mission will henceforth have to bear in addition to the expenses for the research proper: costs of guarding and conservation of the monuments already uncovered, notably the group: Temples of Baal and of Dagon and library, as well as the fortress (or fortified palace) of Ugarit. It is understood that an estimate will be submitted to me on the part of the Service des Antiquités. I then asked that, pending the resumption of the excavations at Ras Shamra, the Mission be authorised to continue its programme of reconstruction and restoration of the camp at Minet el Beida, which suffered further damage during the disturbances of 1945. Mr Menaged asked to consult his superiors before giving me an answer. The first interview had lasted 2h30.
During the second interview, the next day, Mr Menaged informed me that the Mission is authorised to continue the work of restoring the camp and the site of Ras Shamra, on condition that the Service des Antiquités be henceforth charged with carrying out the work instead of the Public Works Service of Latakia. Mr Menaged proposed to go with me for one day to Latakia to study the works not included in my programme, currently being carried out by the Public Works. He himself undertook a step with the authorities, at the same time a step was to be made by our Legation. The next day he informed me that the security authorities refused to grant any visa before one month or one month 1/2. Another point on which Mr Menaged returned several times is the disappearance of certain objects from Ras Shamra deposited in the Latakia Museum, since transferred to Aleppo, notably several gold discs. He also pointed out to me the disappearance of the fine ceremonial axe with gold-inlaid socket and iron blade published in Ugaritica I. I told him that I believe I noticed this unique piece when I visited the Aleppo museum in the company of the curator last July. Mr Menaged was greatly surprised, telling me that the curator of this museum had reported the disappearance of this piece only a few weeks ago. It is evident that the Service des Antiquités suspects French officials of the former government of Latakia. It reproaches those who were in charge of this museum for having £ait no inventory of this museum. This is a negligence for which Damascus tends to hold the French administration responsible. The next day, Mr Menaged informed me by telephone that the ceremonial axe had indeed been found at Aleppo and that he apologised for having told me it was missing there. He added that my declaration of accepting, as regards Ras Shamra, the provisions of the new law on antiquities would have been warmly received by his authorities, and that as soon as the earlier divisions were settled, there would no longer be any difficulties standing in the way of resuming the research. Mr Menaged then wished to know in the name of which institution and by means of which funds the French Mission proposes to operate at Ras Shamra. I informed him that the patronage of the research is assumed by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and that I direct it as research director at the Centre National de la Recherche scientifique.
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