Chas. L. Hoover worked as an American consul in Batavia, Java. He had written a letter to Alexander Wetmore (dated February 3, 1926) informing him of the party’s arrival on January 3, 1926. He was highly skeptical of the purpose of the expedition and who was paying the expenses. He writes to Wetmore, “I am of the opinion that a syndicate has been formed to take moving pictures in this country, and that the scientific aspect of the expedition has been featured for the purpose of enlisting aid which would not otherwise be forthcoming.” Hedberg adamantly denies this in his August 5th journal entry {F3.17}.