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mentioned for visits, but that was abandoned in view of the fact that they could throw little light on our peculiar problems.
You further emphasized the need for making our purposes clear to the Chinese officials, and paving the way for the arrival of our staff ready for work.  It was pointed out that we must run no danger of misunderstanding from the Chinese, that they must be made to appreciate our detatchment from the ordinary interests of the foreigner in the East, and be asked for their moral support at least.
An itinerary was presented to me to which I adhered as far as was practicable and to which was I able to make some important additions.  Further, Mr. Freer provide me with certain detailed notes made by himself at different times in the field, concerning kiln sites and other objects of interest to which I was requested to direct my attention.
Before taking up the various parts of this report in their chronological order, I will say from the start that that part of our project which deals with foreign relations was to the last degree successful, and our plans were received by foreign scholars not only with friendly welcome but an obvious intention to cooperate in the future.  In the talks which I had with French, English, Swedish, Russian and Chinese scholars, I obtained a mass of valuable suggestions concerning the archeological problems which should engage our attention, certain offers of cooperation which are equivalent to guarantees of obtaining large amounts of fresh data, and some promises of concessions in districts which are the very richest in all the East.