The daily sentinel., 1914-03-10
Associated Prnss

Associated Press.
New York, March 10.-In n mono
graph called ''Plunder and Destruc-
tion of Antiquities in China" the
Asiatic Institute of New York calls
attention to the vandalism that has
appeared in China by which she is
antiquities.
The statement places the respon-
sibility for this situation on the de-
yelopment OF the present European
museum and collecting system. 1t
constitutes an appeal to nations and
organizations to call a halt in this
widespread plunder, often involving
bloodshed, in the interests of science
and of fair play for China and her
coming generations.
The monograph contains private
official and public papers 1t voices
China's protests thus
THE Asiatic Institute has receiv
ed Chinese protests dating back six
years emphasizing Chinese abhor-
renee of the European system, whose
practices have now invaded China.
These practices are widespread pill
laying OF temples and sacred places
Of the dead and ether ancient works
in Africa and throughout Asia, in the
name of superior civilization, punt
tive warfare, science or other subter-
fuSe. They protest against the in
PRODUCTION into China OF foreign
conception of time, of science and of
history by newer nations whose sense
of antiquity as peculiarly exempli-
fied in their museum system enables
them to participate in and foster the
destruction and robbery Of holy
thinge."
The havoc and destruction referred
to is specified as follows:
I'm the revolutionary interregnum
between the winter of 1911-12 and
the summer of 1913, sculptures and
other antiquities native to China un-
derwent destruction on a large scale
by foreign and native vandals in the
interest of foreign dealers and muse
ums.
''In 1913 there was a general di-
vision among museums of the world
including at least two American mu-
seums. of several hundred cases of
sculptural fragments broken from
their settings by one and the same
body of vandals. This evil has grown
up SO suddenly-it has come about
since 190S--that foreign peoples
and foreign governments have not
apprehended 1t. No one is aware of
it except the museums involved, their
agents and Intermediates and the
alarmed Chinese"
In statement made to the Associ-
ated Press, the secretary of the Ash
attic Institute says:
"All signs seem to indicate that
depredations have commenced upon
the archaeological and art wealth OF
China to an extent even greater than
the vandalism with which Europe Wis
tied the art and beauty of the shores
OF the Mediterranean. The market
for Chinese antiquities, particularly
sculptures. came with the close of the
Russo-Japanese war, but no nation
bears the stigma of being chief van
dal in China. The market is an in
ternational one. and has been devel-
cped under Japanese and European
direction with Paris as headquarters.
So well has the market been worked
by the dealers that the increase in
prices of Chinese sculpture in the
rast five or six years has been forty
or fifty times. For example, one piece
o. sculpture Of North Wei times
nineth century A. Estimated to
have cost S400 in China, after pass I
ing through only two or three hands, (
is held by. dealer at 5000. One 1
American museum has ten stone
beads broken from statues in the in
terror of China. All large museums I
OF the world have, or are acquiring,
similar fragments. Collectors and I
museums in America are sending /
spesial representatives to China with
large sums of money to buy. Simi-
lar expeditions are setting forth form
Europe.
One remedy which the Institute /
proposes Nn its appeal is the return
to China by all responsible govern
ments and institutions, of stolen 1
Chinese antiquities in accordance
with precedent of the French gov
ernment and of the Smithsonian IN
stitution. which in past years set an
example by returning to China arch
Biological and historical objects Of