ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22332, 1 February 1936, Page 13

ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

EXPLORER FROM AMERICA y OFFICIAL STATUS LOST (Deceived January 31, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 The Department of Agriculture revealed to-day that Professor Nicholas Roerich, an internationally known American artist and explorer. l had become entangled in the turbulent politics of China and Manchukuo. The department indicated that it had disbanded its Asiatic plant and the hunting expeditions headed by Professor Roerich and terminated the services to the Government of the professor himBelf.

Officials disclosed the fact that informal protests against the expedition had been received from high authorities in the area which it had been working. Tbo case was almost unprecedented in the history of the department, though hundreds of similar exploring groups had been sent virtually to every country in the world. Professor Roerich's special assignment with the Chinese expedition was to find drought resistant grass and tCereal seeds. Professor Roerich was born in Russia in 1874. He studied drawing and painting under Michail O. Mikeshine and also at the Academy of Fine Arts, Leningrad (then St. Petersburg) and at Paris. ;I r rom 1898 to 1900 he was director of the School for the Encouragement gf Fine Arts in Leningrad. The professor went to the United States in 1920 under the auspices of' the Art Institute, Chicago. He made a pilgrimage through Russia in 1901--04 find later spent five years in Central Asia. He has painted more than 500 pictures, and is represented in manyfamous galleries.