Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-19
TUT'S TOMB in NO MANS LAND;
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS LIKELY
TO SETTLE CARRIERS RIGHTS
Psychologist Holds Keys But
May Not Enter as Native
Government Insists on
Contract Regulation Right

CAIRO, Egypt, Feb. 1.-THE
Egyptian governments action re-
garding Tutenkhamuns tomb. it is
declared here. will be based entirely
upon the terms of Howard Carriers
concession and the agreement of
February Z, governing the admis-
sion of visitors to the tomb, of which
Mr.. Carter was a signatory and the
government will act entirely from its
lagal rights.
Every measure will be taken to
preserve the valuable treasures OF
the tomb.
The situation existing in the val,
ley of the kings has no precedent in
the annals of Egyptology. The DIFF,
ferences between Mr.. Carter and the
Egyptian authorities have placed
Tutenkhamun' tomb virtually in
No Mans Land, for Mr.. Carter holds
the keys to the woOden1steel gates
while the Egyptian government has
putSthe tomb out of bounds by an
nouncing that the officials of the
antiquities department have the
right TO call upon the armed police
on duty in the valley to repel any at.
tempts 10 enter it.
A permanent watch has been es
tablished by three native inspectors
of the department of antiquities to
see that these orders are enforced.
Direct telephone communication has
been established between the valley
and the headquarters of the chief in
spector of antiquities for upper
Egypt situated outside of Luxor on
the Karnak road, the telephone box
being within a hundred yards of Tut
enkhamun's tomb. The chief inspec-
tor, who is an Englishman and whom
the government has entrusted WITH
the execution of its orders, is thus in
immediate contact with the tomb
guards.
In recognition of the fact that the
present situation is wholly untenable,
the general expectation here is that
the Egyptian government will claim
to exercise its right under the con-
tract with Mr.. Carter and take over
the tomb and complete the work of
exploration. In such an event it
is assumed the eXcavators will re-
sort to legal proceedings to deter
mine whether the government is en-
titled to exercise this right.
Luxor is buzzing like a beehive
for every foreign eXcavator fears
the Egyptian government may make
the present incident the occasion for
revising the whole system under
which foreigners are granted licenses
to dig. For many years past the
situation by which the bulk of eXca-
walton in Egypt has been done by
foreigners with foreign capital and
taking a share of the findings as a
reward, has created constant fric-
ton between the government and the
eXcavators
CARTER DEFTED AUTHORITY,
/ is EGYPTIANS CLAIM
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-The
Egyptian legation today made this
explanation of the much discussed
incident of the closing of Tutenkh-
amun's tomb:
According to an understanding
in which Howard Carter participate
ed the Egyptian government decid-
ed to regulate the visits to the tomb.
Wednesday,, February IS, was re-
served exclusively for the press.
MIR. Garter asked permission for
a certain number of his personal
friends to visit the tomb on that
day, The Egyptian government re-
fused his request, in accordance
with the agreement, and Mr.. Car
ter, not satisfied with the refusal
of the government. threatened to
take legal proceedings and closed
the tomb
THE Egyptian government could
not allow defiance OF its authority,
and took steps to have the laws and
regulations respected.
THE Egyptian legation stated that
it hoped that Mr.. Carriers action
would not fail to create universal
indignation.' "