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12.

the foundations for the edifice which is to follow. Meanwhile it will be the task of the special scholar at headquarters to deal with fresh material in the light of what his library provides, to translate inscriptions, piece together the known facts of history with the new data and give meaning and order to the mass of seemingly irrelevant facts.
     We need not be discouraged at the start merely because we can not foretell what our final results will be. At the same time, whatever work is produced must be on the very highest level of scholarship, and it must be realized that the eyes of the sinologues and archarologists of other countries are upon us. If we make avoidable mistakes, or arrogate to ourselves scholarship which we do not possess, we may look in vain for the cooperation of real scholars in the future.
     For this reason I strongly recommend that, in case our investigations brings to light new facts in a field where there already exists a competent authority, we turn over our material to him, to be dealt with in the light of his superior knowledge. This policy will not be considered discreditable in use - rather the reverse. As first Director of the School I have already announced this policy in my talks with foreign scholars, and by their appreciative reception of it am convinced that any departure from the plan in the future would mean a loss to our prestige.