Salt mines and castles: The discovery and restitution of looted European art

My dear Mr. Secretary:

The members of the College Art Association of America, a constituent member of the American Council of Learned Societies, have been disturbed by the removal to this country of works of art from Berlin museums.

Information that we have received from abroad leads us to believe that the integrity of United States policy has been questioned as a result of this action. We have also been informed that adequate facilities and American personnel now exist in the American zone in Germany to assure the proper care of art treasures in that area.

We would therefore urge that the department of State clarify this action, and would strongly recommend that assurances be given that no further shipments are contemplated.

My Dear Mr. Lee:

Your letter of January 15, urging the Department to clarify the action taken in removing to the United States certain works of art from German museums, has been received. In the absence of the Secretary, I am replying to your letter and am glad to give you additional information on this question.

The decision to remove these works of art to this country was made on the basis of a statement by General Clay that he did not have adequate facilities and personnel to safeguard German art treasures and that he could not undertake the responsibility of their proper care.

You indicated in your letter that you have been informed that adequate facilities and personnel now exist in the American zone for the protection of these art treasures. I must inform you that our information, based upon three separate investigations, is precisely to the contrary. The redeployment program has, as you no doubt realize, reduced American personnel in Germany and this reduction is applied to arts and monuments and this personnel as well as to other branches.

The coal situation in Germany is critical and has made it impossible to provide heat for the museums. General Clay cannot be expected to provide heat for the museums if that means taking it away from American forces, from hospitals, or from essential utility needs.

We are furthermore advised that the security situation was not such as to ensure adequate protection in Germany. In short, the Department’s information is such that it cannot agree with your premise.

It was realized that the “integrity of United States policy” might be questioned by some if these works of art were removed to this country. After a careful review of the facts, it was decided that the most important aspect was to safeguard these priceless treasures by bringing them to this country where they could be properly cared for. It was hoped that the President’s pledge that they would be returned to Germany would satisfy those who might be critical of this Government’s motives.

Sincerely yours,

For the Acting Secretary of State:

James W. Riddleberger
Chief, Division of Central European Affairs[6]

1 East 70th Street
New York 21, New York
April 24, 1946

Dear

Since we believe that it is impossible to defend on technical, political or moral grounds the decision to ship to this country two hundred internationally known and extremely valuable pictures belonging indisputably, by prewar gift or purchase, to German institutions, notably the Kaiser Friedrich Museum of Berlin, we propose to memorialize the President in a resolution to be signed by a group of like-minded people interested in or associated with the arts.

We also intend to point out that no reason can be found for even temporarily alienating these works of art from the country to which legally they belong.

We represent no organized movement or institution. We merely wish as American citizens to go on record by appealing to our government to set right an ill considered action arising from an error of judgment which, however disinterested in intention, has already done much to weaken our national condemnation of German sequestrations of the artistic heritage or possessions of other nations under the subterfuge of “protective custody,” or openly as loot.

The moral foundations of our war effort and final victories will be subtly undermined if we, who understand the implications, pass over in silence an action taken by our own officials that, in outward appearance at least cannot be distinguished from those, detestable to all right thinking people, which the Nazis’ policy of pillage inspired and condoned.

The Monuments Officers attached to our armed forces with their specialized knowledge of the practical risks involved unanimously condemned the decision. Those Americans whose profession it is to study and preserve old paintings deplore it. On ethical grounds it is disapproved by the opinion of enlightened laymen.

We therefore consider the protest we will make to be our plain and simple duty, for it is our considered judgment that no explanation or excuse acceptable to the public conscience can be found for sending fragile old masters across the sea to this country. The physical hazards, the momentous responsibilities and the intellectual ambiguities inherent in such an act are only too grossly evident. The historical repercussions that will follow it can be imagined in the light of past situations of a similar kind. It is well known that the Nazis inculcated in the German mind a fanatical belief that we are destructive barbarians. All future deterioration of these pictures will now, rightly or wrongly, be laid at our door.

We should be glad if you would care to join us and others, who have already expressed to us their sense of the unjustified impropriety of the action to which we refer in demanding the immediate return to Germany of these panels and canvasses, the cancellation of all plans to exhibit them in this country and the countermanding at once of any contemplated further shipments.

The text of the proposed resolution is enclosed. As one of the principal reasons for submitting it to our government is to forestall further action of a similar kind with reference to pictures or objects of art belonging to German museums, as well as to rectify the existing situation, may I earnestly request you to signify your approval, if you are so minded, by signing the resolution and returning it to me before May 6.

Sincerely yours,

Signed: Frederick Mortimer Clapp.

RESOLUTION

Whereas in all civilized countries one of the most significant public reactions during the recent war was the horrified indignation caused by the surreptitious or brazen looting of works of art by German officials in countries they had conquered;

And Whereas that indignation and abhorrence on the part of free peoples was a powerful ingredient in the ardor and unanimity of their support of the war effort of democratically governed states in which the private opinions of citizens are the source and controlling directive of official action;

And Whereas two hundred important and valuable pictures belonging to the Kaiser Friedrich and other Berlin museums have been removed from Germany and sent to this country on the still unestablished ground of ensuring their safety;

And Whereas it is apparent that disinterested and intelligent people believe that this action cannot be justified on technical, political or moral grounds and that many, including the Germans themselves, may find it hard to distinguish between the resultant situation and the “protective custody” used by the Nazis as a camouflage for the sequestration of the artistic treasures of other countries;

Be It Therefore Resolved that we, the undersigned, respectfully request the President to order the immediate safe return to Germany of the aforesaid paintings, the cancellation of any plans that may have been made to exhibit them in this country and the countermanding without delay of any further shipments of the kind that may have been contemplated.

This resolution was signed by:

• Abbott, Jere
• Director
• Smith College Museum of Art
• Northampton, Mass.
• Abbott, John E.
• Executive Vice-President
• The Museum of Modern Art
• New York, N.Y.
• Adams, Philip R.
• Director
• Cincinnati Museum
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Barber, Professor Leila
• Vassar College
• Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
• Baker, C. H. Collins
• Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery
• San Marino, Calif.
• Barr, Alfred H.
• The Museum of Modern Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Barzun, Jacques
• History Department
• Columbia University
• New York, N. Y.
• Baur, John I. H.
• Curator of Painting
• Brooklyn Museum
• Brooklyn, N. Y.
• Biebel, Franklin
• Assistant to Director
• Frick Collection
• New York, N.Y.
• Breeskin, Mrs. Adelyn
• Acting Director
• Baltimore Museum of Art
• Baltimore, Md.
• Burdell, Dr. Edwin S.
• Director
• The Cooper Union
• New York, N. Y.
• Chase, Elizabeth
• Editor “Bulletin”
• Yale University Art Gallery
• New Haven, Conn.
• Claflin, Professor Agnes Rindge
• Vassar College
• Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
• Clapp, Frederick Mortimer
• Director
• Frick Collection
• New York, N. Y.
• Cole, Grover
• Instructor in Ceramics
• University of Michigan
• Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Cook, Walter W. S.
• Chairman
• Institute of Fine Arts
• New York University, N. Y.
• Courier, Miss Elodie
• Dir. of Circulating Exhibitions
• The Museum of Modern Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Crosby, Dr. Sumner
• Assistant Professor, History of Art
• Yale University
• New Haven, Conn.
• Cunningham, Charles C.
• Director
• Wadsworth Atheneum
• Hartford, Conn.
• Dawson, John P.
• Professor of Law
• University of Michigan
• Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Faisan, Professor Lane, Jr.
• Williams College
• Williamstown, Mass.
• Faunce, Wayne M.
• Vice-Director
• American Museum of Natural History
• New York, N. Y.
• Fisher, H. H.
• Hoover Library
• Stanford University
• Palo Alto, Calif.
• Force, Mrs. Juliana
• Director
• Whitney Museum of American Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Goodrich, Lloyd
• Research Curator
• Whitney Museum of American Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Gores, Walter J.
• Professor and Chairman of Design
• University of Michigan
• Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Haight, Mary N.
• Assistant Curator of Ancient Art
• Yale University Art Gallery
• New Haven, Conn.
• Hamilton, George Heard
• Curator of Paintings
• Yale University Art Gallery
• New Haven, Conn.
• Hamlin, Talbot F.
• Librarian, Avery Architectural Library
• Columbia University
• New York, N.Y.
• Hammett, Ralph W.
• Professor of Architecture
• University of Michigan
• Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Hancock, Walter
• Director of Sculpture
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
• Philadelphia, Pa.
• Hayes, Bartlett H., Jr.
• Director
• Addison Gallery of American Art
• Andover, Mass.
• Hebran, Jean
• Professor of Architecture
• University of Michigan
• Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Helm, Miss Florence
• Old Merchant’s House
• New York, N. Y.
• Howe, Thomas Carr, Jr.
• Director
• California Palace of the Legion of Honor
• San Francisco, Calif.
• Hudnut, Joseph
• Dean
• Graduate School of Architecture
• Harvard University
• Cambridge, Mass.
• Hume, Samuel J.
• Director
• Berkeley Art Association
• Berkeley, Calif.
• Ivins, William M., Jr.
• Counselor and Curator of Prints
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• New York, N.Y.
• Janson, H. W.
• Assistant Professor
• Department of Art and Archaeology
• Washington University
• St. Louis, Mo.
• Jewell, Henry A.
• Department of Art and Archaeology
• Princeton University
• Princeton, N. J.
• Kaufmann, Edgar
• Curator of Industrial Art
• The Museum of Modern Art
• New York, N.Y.
• Keck, Sheldon
• Restorer
• The Brooklyn Museum
• Brooklyn, N. Y.
• Kirby, John C.
• Assistant Administrator
• Walters Gallery
• Baltimore, Md.
• Kirstein, Lincoln
• New York, N. Y.
• Kubler, Professor George
• Yale University
• New Haven, Conn.
• Lee, Rensselaer W.
• Princeton, N. J.
• Marceau, Henri
• Assistant Director
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Philadelphia, Pa.
• Mcllhenny, Henry
• Curator of Decorative Arts
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Philadelphia, Pa.
• McMahon, A. Philip
• Chairman
• Fine Arts Department
• Washington Square College
• New York University
• New York, N. Y.
• Meeks, Everett V.
• Dean
• Yale School of the Fine Arts
• New Haven, Conn.
• Meiss, Millard
• Professor
• Columbia University
• New York, N. Y.
• Miner, Miss Dorothy E.
• Librarian
• Walters Gallery
• Baltimore, Md.
• More, Hermon
• Curator
• Whitney Museum of American Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Morley, Dr. Grace McCann
• Director
• San Francisco Museum of Art
• San Francisco, Calif.
• Morse, John D.
• Editor
• Magazine of Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Myer, John Walden
• Assistant Director
• Museum of the City of New York
• New York, N. Y.
• Myers, George Hewitt
• President
• Textile Museum of the District of Columbia
• Washington, D. C.
• Nagel, Charles, Jr.
• Director
• The Brooklyn Museum
• Brooklyn, N. Y.
• O’Connor, John, Jr.
• Assistant Director
• Carnegie Institute
• Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Packard, Miss Elizabeth G.
• Walters Gallery
• Baltimore, Md.
• Parker, Thomas C.
• Director
• American Federation of Arts
• Washington, D. C.
• Peat, Wilbur D.
• Director
• John Herron Art Institute
• Indianapolis, Ind.
• Phillips, John Marshall
• Assistant Director and Curator of the Garvan Collections
• Yale University Art Gallery
• New Haven, Conn.
• Poland, Reginald
• Director
• Fine Arts Society of San Diego
• San Diego, Calif.
• Porter, Allen
• Secretary
• The Museum of Modern Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Porter, Vernon
• Director
• Riverside Museum
• New York, N. Y.
• Post, Chandler
• Fogg Museum of Art
• Harvard University
• Cambridge, Mass.
• Rathbone, Perry T.
• Director
• City Art Museum of St. Louis
• St. Louis, Mo.
• Reed, Henry Hope
• New York, N. Y.
• Rich, Daniel Catton
• Director
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Chicago, Ill.
• Riefstahl, Mrs. Elizabeth
• Librarian
• Wilbour Egyptological Library
• The Brooklyn Museum
• Brooklyn, N. Y.
• Ritchie, Andrew C.
• Director
• Albright Art Gallery
• Buffalo, N. Y.
• Robinson, Professor David M.
• Department of Art and Archaeology
• Johns Hopkins University
• Baltimore, Md.
• Ross, Marvin Chauncey
• Curator of Medieval Art
• Walters Gallery
• Baltimore, Md.
• Rowe, Margaret T. J.
• Curator
• Hobart Moore Memorial Collection
• Yale University Art Gallery
• New Haven, Conn.
• Saint-Gaudens, Homer
• Director
• Carnegie Institute
• Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Scholle, Hardinge
• Director
• Museum of the City of New York
• New York, N.Y.
• Setze, Josephine
• Assistant Curator of American Art
• Yale University Art Gallery
• New Haven, Conn.
• Sexton, Eric
• Camden, Me.
• Shelley, Donald A.
• Curator of Paintings
• New York Historical Society
• New York, N. Y.
• Sizer, Theodore
• Director
• Yale University Art Gallery
• New Haven, Conn.
• Slusser, Jean Paul
• Professor of Painting and Drawing
• University of Michigan
• Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Smith, Professor E. Baldwin
• Department of Art and Archaeology
• Princeton University
• Princeton, N. J.
• Soby, James Thrall
• New York, N. Y.
• Spinden, Dr. Herbert J.
• Curator
• Indian Art and Primitive Cultures
• The Brooklyn Museum
• Brooklyn, N. Y.
• Sweeney, James Johnson
• Director
• Department of Painting and Sculpture
• The Museum of Modern Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Sweet, Frederick
• Associate Curator, Painting and Sculpture
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Chicago, Ill.
• Tee Van, John
• Department of Tropical Research and Special Events
• New York Zoological Park
• Bronx, N. Y.
• Vail, R. W. G.
• Director
• New York Historical Society
• New York, N. Y.
• Walker, Hudson D.
• President
• American Federation of Arts
• New York, N.Y.
• Wall, Alexander J.
• New York Historical Society
• New York, N. Y.
• Washburn, Gordon
• Director
• Museum of Art
• Rhode Island School of Design
• Providence, R. I.
• Weissman, Miss Polaire
• Museum of Costume Art
• New York, N. Y.
• Wissler, Dr. Clark
• American Museum of Natural History
• New York, N. Y.
• Wind, Edgar
• Smith College
• Northampton, Mass.
• York, Lewis E.
• Chairman
• Department of Painting
• Yale University Art Gallery
• New Haven, Conn.
• Zigrosser, Carl
• Curator of Prints and Drawings
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Philadelphia, Pa.
• Stoddard, Whitney S.
• Assistant Professor of History and Art
• Williams College
• Williamstown, Mass.

Statement by the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas, Owen J. Roberts, Chairman.

National Gallery of Art, Washington 25, D. C.

Washington, May 14, 1946: The members of the Commission have received copies of a resolution signed by Dr. Frederick M. Clapp, Director of the Frick Collection; Mrs. Juliana Force, Director of the Whitney Museum of American Art, and others who criticize the action of the United States Government, taken at the Direction of the President and the United States Army Command in Germany, in bringing to this country certain paintings from German museums for safekeeping until conditions in Germany warrant their return. The Clapp resolution compares the action taken by the United States Government to looting operations carried on by the Nazis during the war.

The Commission has also noted the statements issued by the White House on September 26, 1945, and by the War Department on December 6, 1945, that the works of art of bona fide German ownership, which may be brought to this country for safekeeping, will be kept in trust for the German people and will be returned to Germany when conditions there warrant.

The Commission has also noted the statement issued by the late Chief Justice Stone, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Art, on December 14, 1945, that the Trustees of the National Gallery, at the request of the Secretary of State, had agreed to arrange for the storage space for such paintings as might be brought to this country by the United States Army for safekeeping, and that he felt the Army “deserved the highest praise for the care exercised in salvaging these great works of art and in making provisions for their safety until they can be returned to Germany.”

The Commission accepts without reservation the promise of the United States Government, as voiced by its highest officials, that the works of art belonging to German museums and brought to this country for safekeeping, will be returned to Germany when conditions there warrant.

The Commission is strongly of the opinion that the resolution sponsored by Dr. Clapp, Mrs. Force, and others is without justification and is to be deplored.

• Hon. Owen J. Roberts, Chairman
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• David E. Finley, Vice Chairman
• Director, National Gallery of Art
• Washington, D.C.
• Huntington Cairns, Secretary
• Secretary, National Gallery of Art
• Washington, D.C.
• Dr. William Bell Dinsmoor
• Columbia University, New York
• Hon. Herbert H. Lehman
• New York
• Paul J. Sachs
• Professor of Fine Arts, Harvard University
• Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Francis Cardinal Spellman
• Archbishop of New York
• Francis Henry Taylor
• Director, Metropolitan Museum of Art
• New York

THE WHITE HOUSE

Washington
May 22, 1946

Dear Mrs. Force:

This is in acknowledgment of the letter to the President, signed by yourself and Dr. Frederick M. Clapp, Director, The Frick Collection, with which you enclosed a resolution signed by ninety-five of your colleagues in connection with the two hundred valuable paintings removed from Germany to this country for safekeeping.

These paintings were removed to this country last year on the basis of information to the effect that adequate facilities and personnel to ensure their safekeeping did not exist in Germany. Our military authorities did not feel that they could take the responsibility of safeguarding them under such conditions and it was therefore decided that they would have to be shipped to this country until such time as they could safely be returned to Germany. It was realized at the time that this action might lead to criticism but it was taken, nevertheless, because it was considered that the most important aspect was to safeguard these priceless treasures. It was hoped that the President’s pledge that they would be returned to Germany, contained in a White House press release on September 26, 1945, would satisfy those who might be critical of this Government’s motives.

I know of no plans to make any further shipments of art objects from Germany to the United States nor of any plans for the exhibition of the two hundred paintings now in this country. While a definite date for the return of these pictures has not as yet been set, I can assure you that this Government will honor its pledge to effect their return as soon as conditions warrant.

Very sincerely yours,

(signed) William D. Hassett
Secretary to the President.