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there, 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 would 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 finished, 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 of duplicates, M. Mengéd informed me of the costs the Ras Shamra Mission would henceforth have to bear, in addition to the expenses for the research proper: costs of guarding and conserving the monuments already uncovered, notably the group: Temples of Baal and Dagon and library, as well as the fortress (or fortified palace) of Ugarit. It was thus agreed that an estimate will be submitted to me on the part of the Department of Antiquities.
I then asked that, pending the resumption of excavations at Ras Shamra, the Mission be authorised to continue its programme of reconstruction and restoration of the camp at Minet el Beida, which had suffered additional damage during the finds of 1945. M.Mengéd asked to consult his superiors before giving me an answer.
the first interview, earlier date 2h30.
During the second interview, the next day, M.Mengéd 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 Department of Antiquities henceforth be entrusted with carrying out the work instead of the Public Works Department of Latakia. M.Mengéd proposed going 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 higher authorities at the same time as a step was to be made by our legation. The next day he informed me that the security authorities have refused to grant any visa before one month or one month 1/2.
Another point on which M.Mengéd 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 reported to me the disappearance of the fine ceremonial axe with a gold and silver inlaid socket and iron blade published in Ugaritica I. I told him that I believed I had noticed this unique piece when I visited the Aleppo museum in the company of the curator last July. M.Mengéd was greatly surprised, telling me that the curator of this museum had reported the disappearance of this piece to him only a few weeks ago. It is evident that the Department of Antiquities suspects French officials of the former Latakia government. He reproached those who had charge of this museum for having made no inventory of this museum This is a negligence for which Damascus tends to hold the French administration responsible. The next day, M.Mengéd 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 accepting, as regards Ras Shamra, the provisions of the new law on antiquities would have been well received by his authorities, and that as soon as the earlier divisions were settled, there would be no further difficulties preventing the resumption of research.
M.Mengéd then wished to know in whose name and by what 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 director of research at the Centre National de la Recherche scientifique.
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