UNCLASSIFIED 
SM-1 
FOREIGN SERVICE DKSPATCH 031.115 5a/6-1455 
From; Amcongen, Leopoldville June 14, 1955 
To; The Department of State, Washington 
Ref; Department's CA-6593, March 31, 1955 
67 Action-IES - 4 Dept. - RMR - 2, NEA-4, A/REP-1 
Rec'd - 6/18 Other - SM-1 
Subject; Smithsonian-Bredin Expedition 
With its instmction of March 16 and 31, 1955, the Department inforaed the 
Consulate General of the plans of the Smithsonian Institution to send to the Congo 
a scientific expedition headed by Dr. Waldo L. SCHMITT for the purpose of collect- 
ing mites and ticks. The Consulate General was not instructed to notify the 
Belgian Congo Government and there was no evidence to show that the EJnbassy in 
Brussels had been instructed to approach the Belgian Government regarding the 
Expedition's plans. We were asked, however, to render such appropriate assis- 
tance as might be requested by members of the Expedition. 
In advance of the Expedition's arrival, the Consulate General arranged, as 
requested in correspondence from Dr. Schmitt's office, for twelve cases of scien- 
tific material to be entered in bond at Matadi and transshipped by rail and river 
steamer to Stanleyville. The members of the Expedition arrived by air from Binis- 
sels and brou^t four additional c ases of scientific equipment, which were imported 
under guarantee in the Consulate General's name at Leopoldville. The agreement 
with the Belgian Congo Customs authorities and the Consulate General was that all 
of the items listed on the import document vfould be subsequently exported from the 
Congo, and any items which were not exported would be charged the usual rates of 
duty. Dr. Schmitt understood this arran^ent and agreed to it. 
The Consulate General made extended efforts to secure exemption in favor of 
the Expedition from some of the applicable Congo Customs regulations but was not 
told until after considerable effort had been made that no one, not even the 
Governor General, had any authority to direct the waiver of such regulations, 
and an appeal to the Embassy to effect such a waiver in Brussels had no effect. 
The Schmitt party on arrival in Stanleyville posted a bond of 12,000 francs 
covering, in the same way as the Consulate General covered the equipment imported 
at Leopoldville, the twelve cases that had been sent in bond to that interior city. 
The Department having authorized the use of air pouch facilities for the ship- 
ment of exposed film, the Expedition sent on several packages of film which were 
exported via pouch. In order to effect this arrangement with the local Customs 
UNCLASSIFIED 
RGMcGr ego r/d s f 
Reporter 
Information Copy 
