Chapter Eighteen 

 PORTCULLIS AND DRAWBRIDGE 



THE global reactions to the extraordinary culmination of my 

 long search for the Coelacanth had profound effects in France, 

 where widespread and somewhat hysterical propaganda in the 

 press aroused public feeling. I was denounced as a robber who had 

 pounced on their national treasure. As a result, there was wide- 

 spread agitation, and it was urged that the French Government 

 should demand the surrender of the Coelacanth to France. 



This could scarcely have arisen had the matter been presented 

 to the French nation in its true perspective, for apart from my 

 initial intense anxiety to see that it really was a Coelacanth and 

 that it was safe, it had never been my intention to keep it to myself 

 in any way. I intended the fish to be available to expert scientists 

 of all nations. It was indeed my hope to be able to find more speci- 

 mens for that purpose myself, and the expedition had of course 

 been planned to that end. All specimens were to be for the benefit 

 of science generally, not to belong to me or to be confined to the 

 scientists of any one country, but for all. 



Nothing of this outburst was communicated to me officially, 

 but it was natural to expect that its effects would not be without 

 repercussions in higher circles. As I wished to do scientific work 

 in French waters, it would be necessary to request formal per- 

 mission from the French Government, and those who had to 

 consider my request could scarcely be unaware of this degree of 

 national resentment that had been aroused against me, while they 

 would almost certainly be unaware of the true circumstances. 



As I had no direct contact with any personality in French 

 Government circles, on the 15th January 1953, as a prehminary, 

 I wrote as follows to Dr. Millot, who was then in Paris : 



I wish to record my great appreciation of all the assistance and 

 co-operation we received from the authorities of your country, 

 not only through their representatives in South Africa, but also 



