Viewing page 114 of 235

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY #28
27 WEST 67TH STREET
NEW YORK

Ansd.
July 7th- 
Personal and Confidential

Asiatic Institute 
June 30th,

Mr. Charles L. Freer
33 Ferry Avenue
Detroit, Michigan

Dear Mr. Freer;
I have an important communication to make to you respecting conditions as to vandalism in China. I have received information from President Yuan Shih-k'ai's Office that instruction have been given by the president to the Customs Authorities to take steps to prevent further traffic in stolen and otherwise improperly obtained Chinese antiquities.
Furthermore, you will see by the enclosed correspondence that we have secured official support of such a character as to make out suggestions worthy of consideration at the Foreign Office in Perking and by President Yuan Shih-k'ai. 

You will also see by my letter that Mr. Reinsch that President Yuan Shih-k'ai will be informed of the methods by which he can recover rights and possibly valuable archeological property belonging to China.

I consider that with the pressure we are able to exert it is extremely likely that President Yuan Shih-k'ai would avail himself of an opportunity not only to recover lost ground, but to prevent impositions and losses in the future. It is for these reasons that I have written Dr. Reinsch in such a way that he can prepare the ground. 

Under the conditions that we have now produced the American School of Archeology in China is in such a position that, with the proper financial support and an extension of the official support already secured for the movement against vandalism, it could secure the right to take charge and care of China's antiquities in China in some protected building or repository of other character for China.

If China asserts her simple rights respecting her antiquarian interests she will find herself in possession of a mass of antiquities already at hand, and of an unknown quantity which will be hers by discovery in the future. Whatever she accumulates as her share of scientific expeditions or other means will be at her disposition to place under the care of foreigners, who are qualified to care for and protect them.

There is an alternative by which China could loan to reputable foreign museums that which she could not properly easily protect and these functions could best be preformed by a foreign school such as the American School of Archeology in China. 

There are special reasons why our School in China should present a stronger front in the present crisis. It is in its power