TAA i.2.1.81

Nov. 1^st

Callender commenced laying the electric wires to TutankhAmen

Tomb and Akhenaten vault (Dark-Room).

Bradstreet appeared in the Valley. Refused to converse with

him owing to his disgraceful behaviour and action of last

season.

         2^nd

I must leave for Cairo - 6 pm train - to confer with

Tottenham (Under Sec. P.W.D.), Quibell, and the Min. P.W.D.

on question of policy with regard to press and visitors for this

Season : Having just heard by letter from Quibell that

Valentine Williams (Reuters) and Bradstreet (Morning Post

and Hearst press) had lodged a protest at the Ministry

against the Times Agreement and proposed policy for this

Season.

With regard to the Ministry, as afore said, I had already

placed before them in Cairo and Alex. a perfectly fair

programme to which they then did not seem to raise

any objection, pointing out at the same time there would

be attacks by the opposition, but that by taking a

firm attitude such opposition could be frustrated: the Eg.

Gov. had obviously waivered.

I trust when the whole matter is again explained to them

we shall come to an agreeable and final settlement.

The suggestions made in the memo of Todays letter (by Tottenham

and Quibell) would be working for the interests of the opposition

and against the interests of the Gov. as well as ourselves.

         3^rd

Arrived Cairo. Saw Merton. Inscribed name visitors book

Abdine Palace.

Callender transported materials & timber from Rail Station to

Valley.

         4^th

Went to Ministry (P.W.D.) 10.30 am. I found the Eg. Gov.

had fully armed itself with legal advice and that it persisted

in maintaining its alleged right to issue a daily bulletin

at 8 pm. However, after a long discussion with Tottenham,

Lacau and Quibell, we came to a decision to which

Abd El Hamid Pasha Suleman assented - In brief this

decision was: the Eg. Gov. should waive its rights to issue

summary bulletins, and should confide all the duties of publication

to the digger. to gather other minor details There were included

other details regarding visitors surveillance to which we had

no difference in opinion.

         5^th

At the Ministry I found that the Eg. Gov. had completely gone

back on the previous day's decision. As a result the

whole discussion had to be reopened and continued in a

vicious circle until I found myself obliged to present what

might be called an ultimatum.

To this ultimatum I received (Nov. 8^th) a phone message

that the Gov. had decided to accede to my wishes, i.e., invest

me with its alleged rights of publicity, in other words, I should

be the sole source of information as laid down in the original

proposal.