The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Oro. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1924. THE LUXOR DISPUTE.

Southland Times, Issue 19173, 18 February 1924, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Oro. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1924. THE LUXOR DISPUTE.

Mr Howard Carter’s connection with the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb, and the care with which he has tackled the difficult task of recovering these rich archaeological relics for science are so clearly in evidence that the dispute which has interrupted the work at the tomb in an important stage is unfortunate. Mr Carter was in the Egyptian Antiquities services’ before he took up excavation work in the Valley of the Kings, apd it . is to be presumed that he is thoroughly acquainted with the official attitude to the disposal of the recovered relics, but there can be no doubt that public opinion generally is setting against any withdrawal of the tomb relics from Egypt. The legal position as presented by the Daily Express correspondent suggests that the Egyptian Government is attempting to circumvent Mr Carter’s rights by a technicality of a rather daring character. In face of the obvious fact that the tomb was entered by robbers thousands of years ago the attempt to set up that there was no violation of the tomb because the seals were intact is extraordinary. When the outer chambers were cleared, it will be remembered, the excavators found a bole in the final wall which showed where the robbers had gained an entrance without disturbing the seals. It is probable that the ancient tomb inspectors who sealed the tomb did not discover this hole which was hidden by the funeral furniture, but there is evidence that the inner chamber was not disturbed. If this is established, it will probably be found that the dispute between Mr Carter and the Government relates to the inner chamber. The outer rooms were in such a state of confusion that there could be no doubt that the robbers of ancient days were at work there, and in the face of that fact the Government’s stand must be difficult to justify. When the rights of excavators and of the Government are under discussion, however, it must be remembered that the outlay of the Egyptologists is not altogether without financial return. Mr Arthur Weigall, who was for some years in the Egyptian Government service, has made out a strong case for the Government’s firmness in maintaining that the relics should not go out of Egypt. Those who undertake excavations do so at the pleasure of the Egyptian Government, which is not now in a position to bear the cost of the work, but the excavators who make a rich discovery can obtain a return for their labours in literary and moving picture rights, amounting to a considerable sum. Mr Weigall in his argument of this question refers to the case of one rich American who spent a lot of money on excavations under conditions which debarred, him from taking for himself any of his discoveries, but he was pleased to be connected Ayith the work and sought only the honour of being associated with discoveries of sufficient importance to attract the attention, of. the world. Mr Carter claims that his rights as defined under the Egyptian law are different and that he is entitled to a half of the treasures. The legal position is evidently complicated, but the new view taken of these excavations will probably be against him on sentimental grounds. The tombs are Egyptian and the Egyptian people have a claim to their contents overriding any that can be put forward by the excavators. For many years these ancient relics were boldly taken from Egypt and sold to museums and collectors all over the world. One priceless statue was smuggled out of Egypt by the Germans and its presence in Berlin was not disclosed until after the War. Sentiment will be against the excavators in this matter, but whatever the legal position may be it is to be hoped that the work so well done so far, the work so important to research, will not be interrupted at this stage. It is probable that some compromise will be effected, especially as the Egyptian Government, now enjoying wider powers and sustaining greater responsibilities, is in the strongest possible position as the owner of the area in which the excavators work.