890D.927/144

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Alling)

While I was in Chicago over the Christmas holidays I saw Dr. John Wilson5 at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. Dr. Wilson mentioned the difficulties the Institute had had in regard to its Syrian expedition, particularly the proposed withdrawal of the concession by the French authorities. This action was taken on the ground that a prior concession had been granted to the German [Page 663] archaeologist, Baron Max von Oppenheim. Dr. Wilson said that perhaps the Institute had been at fault in not making certain that a prior concession for the dig had not been granted to the Germans. I said that I did not feel that the Institute need blame itself in this respect, that the French authorities had in fact invited the Institute to undertake the dig and had granted a special concession. I added that in my opinion it was not the duty of the Institute to go behind this French offer to see whether it had been made in good faith and whether it could legally be made. I stated that any such effort and investigation by the Institute would undoubtedly have caused displeasure to the French officials concerned. Dr. Wilson seemed to agree and said if that estimate of the situation was correct the question arose in his mind whether, in order to protect the Institute and possibly with a view to establishing a legal claim against the French authorities in Syria, it might not be desirable for this Government to take some official action. Dr. Wilson seemed to have in mind a possible reservation by the Department of the rights of the Institute in regard to the concession. I told Dr. Wilson that upon my return to Washington I would be glad to bring the matter up for discussion in the Department.

  1. Director of the Oriental Institute.