The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-24
Work Of Digging For Sacred
Relics VIII Be Continued

Jerusalem. Aug. 24.--Word is receiv-
ed here that Captain Montague Parker
expects to resume the work Of ex-
cavating for sacred relics in the Valley
of Sloan in August. Meantime deci-
sion as to whether the captains con-
tract with the Turkish government
can be technically construed to justify
his operations at the mosque OF Omar
In awaited with interest
1t will be recalled that after much
excavating had been done and some
relics, 1t is claimed recovered, the
work was interrupted by charges that
| the explorers had violated the holy
mosque Of Omar, obtaining access to 1t
for the purpose Of excavating by brib-
| ing its guardians. Popular feeling was
SO intense against the foreigners that
after they had withdrawn, the govern
ment ordered the arrest Of the guard
ians of the mosque and pursued an In
vestigation into the circumstances OF
its alleged dissertation
Now the contract between Parker,
representing an Anglo American syn
dictate. and the Turkish government
has come to light. Its perusal leaves
one In doubt as to whether the explor-
ers can be shown to have exceeded
their rights, but, on the other hand, 1t
furnishes unmistakeable evidence that
the captain was sanguine of discover
ing rare treasures and that he financed
the affair literally. 1t also develops
that the Turkish government was a
partner to the transaction and was to
share in the spells.
The contract contains twelve arti-
c1es. some Of which are worth repro
ducing. 1t was signed on October ~,
1908, by Captain Parker and ziah
Pasha. the then minister of finance
acting for the Turkish government.
Article one provides that Parker Is to
furnish all the necessary funds and
operate in the name and under the
auspices of the Turkish government.
Article Ave has to do with an extern
sion of the contract in the matter OK
time by mutual consent. In article
eleven Parker releases the govern
ment Of any damages growing out OF
the possible failure Of the enterprise.
Article twelve provides that In case OK
difference Of opinion or misunder-
standing between the two parties the
question shall be submitted for deci-
sion To d committee of four men APP
pointed equally by the Turkish and
British governments and, In the event
of deadlock, the deciding vote shall
ha entrusted 10 q nth man named by
the Turkish minister OF justice.
THE other articles summarized are
as follows:
Article ri. The Turkish government
f@TA wasfgn
or property the captain may select and
determine upon as the site wherln 70
excavate. by adopting every Feasible
method OF procuring and transferring
the same to the captain, whether BY
right of purchase in the case OF the
property belonging to private individu-
ais or by issuing grant OF land In
case OF the property belonging 20 the
crown.
Article ri. Captain Parker is here
by bound to refrain from commencing
his operations anywhere In the vicinity
OF Jerusalem until the transference or
grant OF a given piece OF land II legal
IL erected about the same.
BY the terms Of this article the cap
tain ii furthermore given the privilege
OF excavating one full year from the
date Of his commencing the operations,
after the lapse Of which period the
work of excavation must be discontin-
ued, unless the government should
grant further lease Of the land and
renew the privilege Of excavation on
condition that the captain petition the
government for the same. In which
case Captain Parker agrees to return
the land to the government and forego
his claim on ali and sundry such i'm
plemeats, tools. machinery or material
whatsoever utilized and made use of In
the course OF excavation. III favor of
the government. without demanding
payment or compensation for the same.
at whatever time. Or his own free &C.
cord. he should bring the work OF ax-
cavation to close.
Article nv. Whatever articles or
objects may be nnearthed during the
course Or excavation by Captain Par
lxer must be shared In equai proper