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Show Professor Aziz S. Atiya Page 2 July 28, 1960 I understand from your letters and from conversations with Charles H. Sawyer that your happy inspiration to hold a Sinai Exhibition at Utah will be realized. I shall be eager to hear all about it. Your letter to Vice-President Abdel-Fattah must have been very cogent, as evidenced by a letter from Dr. Hafez, dated June 21, 1960, of which 1 enclose a copy as well as the carbon of my reply. Also I enclose a copy of a letter from the Egyptian Embassy in Washington. Once again it is clear that we have you to thank for opening the gates of Sinai to us. Needless to say, we are filled with gratitude. In your letter of June 27, you ask for Kurt's address in Europe. Until August 16 it will be: c/o American Express Co., Bern, Switzerland. As to the $500.00 coverage, Fred and 1 will surely take care of it next week when our accounts are in order. When you and I met at the Cosmos Club, you were kind enough^ to suggest that you would be willing to write Mr. Zaky Saad, Director of Excavations and Inspectorates, Department of Antiquities, Cairo, concerning our desire to dig a few small exploratory trenches along the walls of the church, particularly at the east end, below the mosaic. It would be well worthwhile to examine the foundations, especially below the mosaic, and you felt that this might be phrased as "digging to repair foundations", as in the repair of a museum. You suggested that I might remind you of this possibility on about August 1. If it is not trespassing too far on your good nature, I should greatly appreciate your giving further consideration to such a possibility. As an architect, I really think it would be worthwhile to inspect the foundations under so great a work of art in order to see that they are still sound, and there is always the possibility that remains of an earlier church (e.g. the one mentioned by Etheria in about 400). Would that you could be present for such an interesting experiment! Once again, Aziz, let me express my sincere gratitude for your kind wishes to Ilene and me and for all you have done to promote the Sinai project. With affectionate best wishes to you all, I remain, Yours as ever, George H. 'Forsyth, Jr. Chai rman GHF:SMP Air Ma i1 Encs.-3 |