The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-22
Republic May Make Representa-
tons on Subject to State
Department
By Ia MARauIsE DE roNrENoY.

MEXICAN millionai,es, art col
n lectors and public museums
"A mat happen to have Chinese
works of art offered to them
Just about this time would do we'll
before parting with their money, to
inquire into the history Of the articles
ia question and make sure that If they
nave passed from hand TO hand dur
ing the last two or three years IL has
been In perfectly legitimate manner
without Offering grounds for complaint
10 the present Chinese government
For 1t is quite within the bounds 1t
possibility that the republic of China
may make representations to the State
Department in Washington. similar to
those which l hear 1T mas made, or Is
in London. on tho subject of property
taken from the Imperial Palace and
other public buildings at Picking. dur
ing tho recent revolutionary outbreak
Many of tn, objects borne away are
regarded as belonging 10 the state
rather than to members of the de-
posed dynasty. and the new republic.
feeling aggrieved at being deprived
OF these valuables. will make efforts
to get back all that can be traced In
deed. II is doubtful whether the prop
erty In question can be classe.i under
the head of loot" that is to say Leg
itimatc spoils taken from an enemy in
time of war.
The word loot" came into the Eng
is supposed to DC derived from the
Sanskrit "lotra,' signifying booty. In
order 20 give q valid title to these
Chinese art objects. and consequent
right to dispose thereof it would hav.
TO be shown, first and foremost that
thcy were taken in regular warfare.
and not merely appropriated by light
fingered gentry amid thu confusion OF
a riot, or some other internal disorder.
Then: IL 1t could he proved that the
g me. md 1T ITctc ~
were actual and bona fide helligcrcnts.
again the question might be raised as
TO whether China has not now reached
such a rank In the family of nations
that modern Western and conscientious
rul - in such matters ought TO apply
TO her. the practices that were com
mon in the time Of tho First Napoleon
haye gone out of fashion. He plunG-
cred Continental Europe from enc and
TO the other, carrying off from nation
al institutions. from royal palaces and
private houses. all the masterpieces OF
art he could lay his hands on. Indeed.
at u time Of his overthrow there
was hardly single public or private
Europe that had not been depleted OF
Its principal treasures by NAPOLEON or
by his generals. who had carried al
most everything off 10 Paris.
When the allies captured Paris. they
instantly set TO work TO try and re-
cover possession Of their lost treasures
Those in public MUSEUMS and imperial
palaces could of course be easily
traced. But many remained in private
hands and were never recovered Some
OF the finest masterpieces OF the royal
and national collection OF paintings
that 4 hundred years ago were at
Madrid are to-day at Apsley House.
the London home of the Duke of Well.
ington. The Iron Duke captured them
from the French. who were carrying
them off as loot TO Paris. The duke
was on the point of returning them
10 the King OF Spain. when the latter
requested him to keep them. as a token
OF Spanish gratitude for his services
in libcrating Spain from the French
invaders. Since the time OF Napoleon
footing in war among civilized nations
has been practically abandoned Old
Emperor William 81 Germany himself
was particularly conscientious. In the
war of 1870. the only souvenir he car
ried away with him when he retired
from the Palace of Versailles. on the
establishment of peace. was small
silver candlestick of trifiing value. which
he hurriedly snatched UP at the last