The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-11-07
AustridnS Refuse
To Publish Secret
Italians Receive Many Priceless Art
and Niatorioai Treasures Under
Secret Agreement.

thus far has refused 10 make public
the secret agreement BY which Dr
Karl Renner. then chancellor. agreed
20 give Italy many valuable works ~
art. manuscripts and historical relies
not provided for surrender In the
treaty ~ ST. Gefmain. despite de-
mands BY art associations IN lnflu-
entail persons Tor that Information.
The history of the matter l. inter
esting and the Association Press has
been able 90 learn from authoritative
sources some 81 It's details. While the
guarded admissions ~ the govern
mont generally are phrased IN the fu
ture tense as 90 the delivery ~ these
articles az a matter 81 fact that are
ali understood 20 be now IN italian
possession.
Their seizure began when the Ital-
ian Armisttce commission. under Gen
eral segre. first arrived In Vienna in
February ~ last year. the contention
81 the commissioners being that UNI
der the treaty Of the war az 1885 these
treasures should Ions since have been
delivered. AmonE the articles taken
BY General segre were the famous
tapestries u Montua and az regards
them the Austrians conceded title and
Then began the removal ~ pictures
from the Hofmuseum and Academy 81
Fine Arts which had. been brought 20
Vienna in 1916 and 1855 These had |
been stored IN church In Venice. |
having been collected from many /
churches IN the Venetian territory n /
Was done b. order ~ Francis /. then /
sovereign Of Venice which was "a thai 1
time a part OF the Austrian Empire 4
The AuHtrians bring forward a sup /
Elementary treaty 90 that ~ fS66 re-
warainR these objects. intended 10 I
clear title They render this clause /
a. follows: Austria will keep (gar-
dera) the pictures exported IN 1855
which his majesty the Emperor some
time ago gave 20 the Academy % Fine |
Arts IN Vienna and % other galleries /
In tho empire"
II IL around the word gardera' the
Italians center their argument for
possession. Contending n mean. take |
IN custody Or for safe keeping not
possession or gift The Austrians say |
they have documents in the state
archives 20 show that IA return the 4
Emperor gave 40 italy presents % art /
works fnr Ia excess 81 value % those
IN controversy. among them being the 4
priceless collections Afanfrin and L
Boasi
The Italians also took from the
National Library or other places ad-
ditional treasures such aa autographs.
rauaicai books. and three manuscripts
worth several millions ~ dollars. one
% which. The Genesis ~ Vienna" Is
said TO be the most valuable late
Roman manuscript IN existence
With AT these objects safe IN Italy
when the Peace Conference began ia
Paris the Italians advanced further
claims for works ~ ART from Austria.
demanding the pick ~ pictures from
the National Gallery in Vienna and
virtually All the bronzes and statues
made in Italy or that ever were ia
Italy. The objects thus covered were
estimated 20 be worth about 4OeO
eeo 600 sold francs
Their claims we're rejected how
ever. by tho conference and then be-
gan the Italian effort 20 effect q spe-
cial treaty with Austria to obtain her
end. The negotiations proceeded an
30 this spring when Dr Rcnner final
~ signed a on the occasion ~ his
italian visit. Under its term Genefall
SeEres seizures are localized and
arge number ~ valuable objects are
coded ia addition
The most important are the Re-
liquRry of Cardinal Ressarioue and
the Cross OF ~ Theodore. The first
named Il a remarkable SPECIMEN Of
the Venetian gothic goldsmiths art OIL
the 10th century aud the other uni
que piece - Rystantine goldsmlthy
IN terms of dollars they are said toI
he beyond price The agreement also
gives 70 Italy a quantity - hronzes
historical relics. manuscripts and other
objects and bronrea az the Renais-
sance, including Donatelio's Angel
playtng the Tsmbourincf and two
bronxes hy Antico. The whole - the
lannon's Duke de Este collection il In
ciuded
In return Italy reuounces her claims
% certain objects 81 more or less val
ne. Among them the coronation gar
ments % the old German empsrors
Finally italy promises her help 20
save the Austrian collections from thal
claims ~ other powers under article
ias ~ the treaty ~ - German
AccordinR 20 report there was a
verbal promise On the part % Italy 20
assist Austria wherever possible In
the boundary denmitations now inl
progress and certain other political
assurances
II T. Understood the Austrian Sec
ton % the Respiration Commission -
making inquiries into the whole
as " may affect the as
scta ~ the country 60 which the
treaty q 81 Germain gives title. u