TUTANKHAMEN’S TOMB

Southland Times, Issue 19172, 16 February 1924, Page 5

TUTANKHAMEN’S TOMB

CESSATION OF WORK. DECISION COMES AS A THUNDERBOLT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON. February 14. The Exchange Telegraph Company’s correspondent at Luxor says that Mr Howard Carter’s decision to close the Tomb came as a thunder-bolt after the exciting discoveries of the past few days. For a long time there had been disagreement between Mr Carter and the Egyptian Government arising out of the Government queering his contract to give one London newspaper priority over all news from the Tomb. Although the contract proved unworkable, Mr Carter endeavoured to carry it out though subjected to frequent interference from the Government which was anxious to maintain its rights. The Tomb was closed immediately after the Press view and no further work will be done. A special correspondent in Luxor states that Mr Carter, in a letter to the Director of General Antiquities in Cairo, points out that the latter’s department is attempting to deprive the Dowager Countess of Carnavon of rights accruing to her under Egyptian law to share in the treasures. Mr Carter says he does not wish to engage in an undignified dispute. He wished to proceed with scientific work compared with which he regards legal rights as of altogether secondary importance. The director replied: “The Government will discuss the tnatter no further but convey to you its decision.” Mr Carter also protests that the rights of publication, which had been entirely preserved to the Countess of Carnavon, have been abrogated by the Department which insisted upon the admission of certain visitors, who were merely press agents, their object being not to assist the undertaking but to encroach upon' the Countess’s publication rights.