Vol.07.p.032[3]

Display page dates: 12/08/1913

Diary Transcription: microfilm: begin page 32

Monday, December 8, 1913 (continued)

an adherent of their open enemy v. Bissing, but I doubt very much whether the matter may be regarded as a closed question. It may well be that the German foreign office will now bring pressure to bear on Kitchener through London.) In this connection Maspero related to me the circumstances attending the appointment of Borchardt to the Committee d'Archaeologie when Bissing left to take his place at Munich. Maspero went to Cromer with the suggestion that Borchardt should be appointed to Bissing's place. Cromer, who disliked Borchardt, ordered Maspero to suppress the place. The German diplomatic agent Rucker-Jenisch came to Maspero and made a most impolite and vigorous protest. Maspero deeply indignant sent him to Cromer. Cromer gave Rucker-Jenisch a point blank refusal. The matter was reported to Berlin; Kaiser Wilhelm wrote a letter to King Edward and six weeks later Cromer sent for Maspero and told him to have Borchardt appointed to the Committee.
As matters now stand, the Museum is badly in need, not merely of one more assistant, but of several, and sooner or later the question must be reopened. I have asked Budge if Hall of the British Museum would consider a salary of 500 L (pounds) a year. Budge told him no. I asked Maspero if any American had been considered. Maspero said that he would give me the Process-Verbal of the last meeting of the Committee. The part which he showed me have the substance of a speech of Mr. Farnal's about as follows: "It is remarkable that while the Italians, the Germans, the French, and the English are all represented either on the Museum staff or in the Committee, the nation who had perhaps the greatest interest at present in the antiquities in Egypt has no representative. I refer to the United States. They are probably spending more than any other nation in Egypt on strictly scientific work. For example, my neighbor Reisner at the Pyramids, spends every year thousands of pounds in clearing that vast cemetery and finding relatively speaking only a few objects. The work is done in the highest scientific manner, and to the advancement of knowledge, and so on (no other expedition was mentioned except ours). Professor Maspero replied

microfilm: end page 32


End of Diary Transcription