THE FOREIGN SERVICE 
OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
Aiuerican Consulate General, 
Leopold\'ille , E el gran -Congo , 
July 12 , 1955 . 
Dr, -"alclo Schmitt^ 
c/o Siiiithsoniaji Institute^ 
v/ashington^ D.G. 
A / 
r"\ V 
I 
Dear Dr. Cciimitt: 
Enclosed are the letters we sent .■’■ou in care of the 
Chief of Gustoras in Usunbura and imich have noi/ been re- 
turned to us via the Director of Customs in Leopoldville. 
The letters i/ere of course returned to us unopened. You 
may find them useful for your. files and for the answers 
thev furnish to certain of your questions. 
The transit document mentioned as enclosed irith our 
letter of -Hay 10 ^ 1955 ^, >^sis given to the Director of Cus- 
toms at his request. 
Tfe 
have now received a large imckage from Thornton in 
Bukavu^ containing seven smaller packages or exposed film 
left by the eorpedition with Thornton, ke have checked in- 
formally and find that none of this fiLm was included on 
the transit document covering, the material jt'ou brought in 
3^t Leopold\d_lle and presume therefore that jou declared it 
to the, Congo Customs at Stanle;5/~ville. The documents xvhich 
you executed at Stanleyville were presumably presented by 
JOU when 3^011 left Ruanda -Urundi on riay 2 o and found to 
agree amth a physical check of the material 3^011 too^ out 
with you at that time. This means that the films now bein 
held b3r the Consulate General ma:/- have no legal basis for 
& 
still being in the Congo. ’ Ce have xrnitten to the Director 
of Custo.Tis, however, aski;i,-; for oemission to fonward them 
to ,you-'n.a air pouch. Vduld you in the meantime be able to 
fiirnish us anv information that night helm us in case xfe 
are asked by Customs for sn explanation of the roatter? 
3incerel;r 3/ours 
Linclosiires: 3 
