AIR MATI, 
March 10, 1955 
Mr. Robert MacGregor 
American Consul 
Leopoldville, Belgian Congo 
Dear MacGregor i 
Through official channels, jour assistance is beii^ solicited 
bj the Smithsonian Institution in behalf of the Smithsonian-Bredin 
Congo Expedition which the Institution is spomorir^, aixi whidi I 
have the honerr, aimi I ai^t a^, the pleasure, of heading tip as the 
Smithsonian * s represenbattve. In extension of that official cm®- 
mnication, I would like to add this more personal word, for we do 
med your help in the worst kind of way, in order that the heavier 
part of our photc^rai^c supplies and cc^lecting gear get to 
Stanleyville in time for us to pick thm up on April l6 or 17 on 
our arrival there. 
As at present constituted, the expedition is a relatively 
small one, our party consistir® of but four people who may later be 
joined by two more at a S 0 E»what later date. The four include 
mys^f. Dr. Edward Baker, acarologist (ait© ard ticdc man) of the 
D. S. Departs^nt of Agriculture, Dr, Roy lyman Sexton d Washington, 
D, C.j physician (medical consultant) and photographer, and his son, 
Roy L., Jr., as assistant. We are flying ty Sabena to Leopoldville, 
to arrive there, Schmitt and teker, on April 8, and the Sextons on 
April 11. On the 17th we fly to Stanleyville to take two autos (one 
for the party and erne for supplies and gear) for the balance of our 
stay in the Belgian Congo. This will take us to the northeastward 
to 0@igala-na-Bodia, then south to Costermmville , Uvira and 
Usumbura, up to the Kagera Park, and on to Entebbe, Uganda, where 
we take tte plane for Juba for the boat (and train) trip down the 
Nile to Cairoj then hero. 
Tl® fact tJiat we are flying from Leopoldville to Stanleyville 
has made it necessary to ship our heavier impediMnta in advame of 
our own arrival, so that it will get to Stanleyville by the time we 
get there. It is for this reason that we so iirgently need your 
help. This shipment, diich leaves New TOrk, Jferch 12, on the Bel- 
gian Une S.S. STEE^IRAETE and which Is listed on the invoice sent 
you officially will need to be transferred almost immediately (is 
that the word?) to the train for Diopoldville, and from there to 
the river steamer for Stanleyville, I do not know how tight connec- 
tior® are, but that gear we've got to have in Starileyville by the 
l6th or 17th at the latest if the expedition is to succeed. Can 
this be accomplished? I sincerely hope so, ¥e hold special pass- 
ports, Baker, the elder Sexton, and j^self, and are travellir^ on 
an official. Smithsonian-sponsored, expedition, and so, I hope, 
there will be a mlnlnEim of Customs* difficulties. Do the chests 
