COPY 
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# 
July 18, 1955 
Dr. Roy Lyman SeKton 
1801 Ry® Street, N. ¥. 
Washington, D. G. 
Pear Roys 
Here it is, in part at least, from the State Department memorandum to 
the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 
"The Department haring authorized the use of air pouch facilities for 
the shipment 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 authorities, it was necessary for the Consulate 
General to retain the copy of the import permit and all shipments were 
checked off against this document in Leopoldville. In accordance with a 
well understood arrangement, this document was sent to the Customs 
authorities at Usumbura, and Dr. Schmitt was directed by telegram to call 
in at that Customs point and arrange there for final clearance of the Congo 
of all the equipment imported, whether at Leopoldville or Stanleyville. It 
was impressed on Dr. Schmitt that until he went through this procedure the 
Consulate General would be held liable by the Belgian Congo Customs 
authorities for payment of duty on goods consumed in the Congo. 
tt It now develops that Dr. Schmitt did not call in at the Customs office 
office in Usumbura but made arrangements through I.R.S.A.C. and through 
friends in the Eastern Congo to clear out of the Congo at the small Customs 
station of Kakitumba in Ruanda-Urundi. He did not oall as directed to 
receive letters that were being held for him by the chief Customs officer 
at Usumbura and also to collect the import document which had been especially 
directed to him there. 
»«*»*••••• «**.»* 
'‘In view of all the trouble taken by the Consulate General and the 
previous discussions had with the Director of Customs, it was considered 
advisable to inf ora this official that Dr. Schmitt had, in fact, left the 
Congo. The Consulate General had no alternative but to state that it was 
quite prepared to honor the guarantee it had given to the Customs in 
Leopoldville. The Director of Customs stated that he would cause a full 
investigation of this matter to be made and would inform the office in due 
course of the amounts to be paid. The Consulate General does not doubt 
that Dr. Schmitt on being informed of this situation will agree to pay 
whatever duties or penalties are assessed. The purpose of this despatch is 
simply to ask the Department to bring to the attention of the Smithsonian 
Institution the rather embarrassing position in which the Consulate General 
finds itself as a result of Dr. Schmitt* s oversight.'* 
