新式考古学是中国近代学术的一个典型，其在发展过程中遇到的阻碍尤能体现新式考古与旧伦理道德的冲突。1934年，考古学的发展已经进入探索期，殷墟正在进行第九次发掘。4月11日，时任考试院院长的戴季陶在西安考察水利和交通之际，发出一封致电上海中央研究院院长蔡元培、南京政府行政院院长汪精卫、教育部部长王世杰和军事委员会委员长蒋介石的电报，认为应该禁止挖掘古墓。 此电报一经发出，社会舆论一片哗然。李济、蔡元培、王世杰、徐炳昶等人纷纷在各大报纸上对戴氏的言论予以回击，一场关于是否应该禁止掘墓的大论战由此展开。本文在梳理前人研究的基础上，对戴氏发出“真电”的原因进行再分析，并引用相关人员的言论理清论战的过程和结果及其产生的社会影响。

New archaeology is a typical example of Chinese modern academic. The obstacles encountered in the development process can reflect the conflict between new archaeology and old morality particularly. In 1934, the development of archaeology has entered the exploration period, and the ninth excavation of Yinxu is being carried out. On April 11, Dai Jitao, the president of the Examination Institute, sent a telegram to Dean of Shanghai Academia Sinica Cai Yuanpei, Minister of Education Wang Shijie,Dean of the Nanjing Government Administration Wang Jingwei, and Chairman of the Military Commission Chiang Kai-shek to ban the excavation of ancient tombs while investigating water conservancy and transportation in Xi'an. Once this telegram was issued, public opinion was in turmoil. Li Ji, Cai Yuanpei, Wang Shijie, Xu Bingchang and others have responded to Dai’s remarks in major newspapers. A big debate about whether or not to ban the excavation of tomb should be launched. On the basis of combing the research of predecessors, this paper re-analyzes the reasons why Dai Jitao sends the telegram, and cites the comments of relevant personnel to clarify the process and results of this debate and the social impact it produces.