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"Basically the question is of no importance," replied Mr Menaged, "it is only for the case that Syria might take part"... When I did not react, he turned to another subject. It is evident that the director of the antiquities service wanted to learn, through this probe, my attitude [handwritten: in] case his government decided to bear part or all of the excavation costs, as Lebanon does for Byblos and Sidon. At this point in our conversation, Mr Menaged assured me again how eager his authorities would be for me to resume personally and as soon as possible the excavations of Ras Shamra etc... He also revealed to me at this turn that, since my declaration yesterday, his authorities had decided not to insist on a division of the tablets at Damascus. It would be possible to make from Paris a proposal for division, supporting it with the publications on the texts. Damascus will make known its agreement or will make a counter-proposal. Mr Menaged insisted on the urgency of this division, the conclusion of which would smooth over the main difficulties.
Since my talks in Damascus, Mr Menaged has telephoned me several times in Beirut about details. I was struck by the conciliatory and friendly tone of these remarks.
In summary, I do not doubt that as soon as the earlier divisions are definitively settled for Ras Shamra as for Mari, Damascus will give the excavation permits. For Mari one must perhaps foresee a longer delay. In the Djezireh, security is not assured according to the news obtained in Damascus. Under the leadership of the Shamars, the Bedouin tribes carry out raids, but they would come to an understanding to oppose the government forces dispatched to the spot from Damascus. On the Iraqi frontier there would have been a pitched battle with considerable losses on both sides.
(continued on p.5)
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