890D.927/24
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Straus)
Sir: There is enclosed a copy of a letter dated April 14, 1936, together with copies of its enclosures,29 received from Mr. C. R. Morey, Chairman of the Committee for the Excavation of Antioch and its Vicinity, regarding possible restrictions upon archaeological activities in Syria in consequence of the current negotiations30 in Paris between the Syrian delegation and the French Government. Similar communications have been received from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, the Worcester Art Museum, the Archaeological Institute of America, and Princeton University.
Provided you perceive no objection you are authorized to make informal inquiry of the appropriate authorities at the Foreign Office as to whether the question of archaeological activities in Syria or of the revision of the antiquities law of Syria is included in the questions to be discussed during the current negotiations in Paris between the Syrian delegation and the French Government.
Very truly yours,