TAA i.2.1.125

CONFIDENTIAL

My dear Molony,        

Herewith a summary of what occurred in these last negotiations with the Egyptian Government with regard to the Tut.ankh.amen affair.

When I arrived in Cairo (December 15.) I found the general atmosphere for obtaining favourable conditions distinctly improved from that of last Spring when I left Egypt.

On the morning of December 16th. I had the fortune of meeting accidentally in the Continental Hotel Ziwar Pasha, the Prime Minister of the present government whom I have known and with whom I have been on very friendly terms for a long time. Ziwar Pasha was most kind and friendly towards me, and almost immediately turned our conversation to the Tut.ankh.amen question, using very strong terms in condemning the previous Zaghloul Ministry, their attitude and past actions. He was most anxious that we should come as soon as possible to some amicable arrangement, and particularly emphasized the importance of opening the Tomb and recommencing the work at once to improve the general feeling of security, and to attract visitors to Egypt as in normal times. I immediately assured him that that too was our sole wish, that we wanted nothing better, that I came to Egypt for that purpose, and that in consequence of the unfortunate past delays although I was not well equipped for immediate recommencement of the scientific work I would make every endeavour to begin again in January, and finally I asked if I could shortly discuss the matter officially with him. To this Ziwar Pasha replied most cordially in the affirmative. 

I found that the general feeling among the Egyptian public, the Pashas and notables, as well as the tourist and hotel Companies, was not only friendly, but they pleaded that I should open the Tomb at the earliest date possible so as to enhance the impression in Europe as to the political status in Egypt as well as security and goodwill. The hotel and tourist Companies in particular were anxious owing to the continued cancellations they were receiving from prospective visitors. Thus once again Tut.ankh.amen has become a centre of political intrigue, fortunately this time rather in favour of our interests than against them, and obviously a world wide advertisement for the Egyptian tourist and hotel Companies.

On the same morning I saw Merzbach who was of the same opinion of the general situation, who saw the advantage of recommencing the work as soon as possible, and who is a great friend of the Prime Minister as well as of Ismail Sidky Pasha the Minister of Interior - the moving spirit of the present Ziwar Ministry. I found that Merzbach had quite recently written to the Residency asking if we could have its support in obtaining an amicable settlement based on the lines of Almina, Countess Carnarvon, letter to the Egyptian Government 13th. September last. This procedure had in view a double advantage: (1) the Residency's help would certainly be a good adjunct, (2) the Tut.ankh.amen affair having been made a sort of National question, any leniency towards us on the part of Ziwar Pasha would more than likely be made the excuse for a strong attack on the part of the opposition Zaghloulists and possibly effect the coming Elections in this country, thus if any negotiations emanated from the Residency, the Prime Minister would have certain excuses on the grounds of pressure having been brought to bear.   

At noon the same day I saw Mr. Furness (Oriental Secretary) at the Residency and asked for their aid in concluding an amicable