TAA i.2.1.127

settlement - the settlement to be on the lines that the work be recommenced as soon as possible, and the question of division should be left open until the completion of the "Adéblaiement" of the Tomb. I added that I felt sure that all Almina, Countess Carnarvon, asked for was a generous consideration on the part of the Egyptian Government towards her with regard to duplicates. Mr. Furness asked an assurance from me that it would be solely of British interest and no press interests as formerly. I at once informed him that it was solely of British interest and that there was not the slightest chance of any press monopoly reoccurring. In fact the Clause (No IX) regarding this point in the proposed new Concession drawn up by the Director General Service des Antiquités met our unanimous approval. Thereupon Mr. Furness said that he was unwilling to place the matter before the Residency and would give an answer on December 18th. for which date he accepted an invitation to dine with me at the Continental Hotel.

On Thursday night (December 18th.) Mr. Furness informed me that the High Commissioner would be willing to open negotiations with the Egyptian Government on the basis stated above, and that the Residency would approach the Egyptian Government on the subject. I immediately conveyed this to Merzbach and hence my cablegram:- 19th. December, 1924.

"MOLONY JAPEN HOLB LONDON.

PLEASE INFORM LADYSHIP AND ALL CONCERNED NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEGUN WITH EVERY HOPE OBTAINING FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS BOTH SIDES STOP FOR DIPLOMATIC REASONS AND GENERAL WELFARE MAY BE REQUIRED TO OPEN UP IN JANUARY SHORT PERIOD IN WHICH CASE SHALL REQUIRE SMALL CREDIT SAY FIVE HUNDRED TO ONE THOUSAND STOP WILL ADVISE FURTHER PROGRESS IN FEW DAYS THIS STRICTLY PRIVATE HOWARD."

I lunched with the High Commissioner on December 20th., but no mention was made upon the subject. 

On the morning of December 26th. I saw Mr. Furness at the Residency who informed me that both Ziwar Pasha and Mahmoud Bey Sidky (Minister of Public Works) whom he had seen, were favourably disposed to discuss the matter, and he advised me to commence official negotiations. I saw Merzbach the same day who most rightly advised me to begin by obtaining an audience with the Prime Minister. This I did and it eventually took place on Sunday evening (December 28th.) at the Conseil des Ministres. I was requested to be there at 6.30 pm. but when I arrived I found that Ziwar Pasha had unexpectedly been called to the Palace. I waited in his private secretary's (Aly Bey Ismail's) office. Aly Bey was most pleasant and appeared to be very keen on an equitable settlement and showed every sympathy with me with regard to past events. Mr. G. Foucart (Directeur de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale) came into the office, conversed freely on Tut.ankh.amen. and his (Foucart's) feud with Lacau, which struck me at the time as being somewhat inopportune. I was also surprised when, after an hour, the Prime Minister returned he immediately asked to see Foucart, though my audience preceded his. Hardly a few minutes elapsed when Ziwar Pasha asked to see me together with Foucart. We discussed the Tomb question in Foucart's presence, Foucart intriguing against Lacau the whole time. I repeated to Ziwar Pasha my earnest wish to come to an amiable and final settlement, suggesting it should be on the basis that the "Adéblaiement" should proceed as soon as possible, the question of division or rather duplicates to be held in abeyance until its completion. Especially as we did not yet know of more than half the contents of the Tomb. I also told him that with the exception of that point and a few very minor details we were prepared to proceed under the conditions laid down