New-York tribune., 1920-11-07
Austrian Art
Treasures i'm
1taly's Hands
While Vienna Government
Is Silent ON Secret Agree
ment. Seizure Began, 1t Is
Reported, Early in 1919
Clause in Treaty Cited
Rome Bases Claims on Word
''Cardera," Consending 1t
Means "Take ia Custody"

VIENNA, Oct. 1S-The government
thus far has refused to make public
the secret agreement by which Dr. Karl
Renner then Chancellor, agreed to give
to Italy many valuable works of art,
manuscripts and historical relics not
provided for surrender in the Treaty of
st. German, despite demands by art
associations and influential persons for
that information.
The history of the matter is inter
estng. and The Associated Press has
been able to learn from authoritative
sources some of It's details. While the
guarded admissions of the government
generally are phrased in the future
tense as to the delivery of these arti-
Giles, as matter of fact they are all
understood to be now in Italian pos
session.
Their seizure began when the Italian
Armistice Commits ion, under General
Segre, first arrived in Vienna, in Feb
ruary, 1919, the contention of the COM
missioncrs being that under the treaty
of the War of 1866 these treasures
should long since have been delivered
Among the articles taken by General
Segre We're the famous tapestries of
Montua, and as regards them the Aus
trians conceded title and assisted in
their delivery.
Then began the removal Of pictures
from the Hofmuseum and Academy of
Fine Arts which had been brought to
Vienna in 1916 and 1888. These had
been stored in church in Venice, hav-
ing been collected from many churches
in the Venetian territory. 1t was done
b. order Of Francis |, then sovereign
Of Venice, which was at that time
part OF tie Austrian empire.
Treaty Is Cited
The Austrians bring forward a sup
Elementary treaty to that Of 1866 re-
garding these objects. intended to clear
title They render this clause as fol-
lows: "Austria will keep gardera) the
pictures exported in 1888 which his
majesty some time ago gave to the
Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and
to other galleries in the empire"
Ii is around the word "gardcra" the
Italians center their argument for pos
session, contending it means "take in
CUSTODY or for safe keepng,' not
possession or gift. The Austrians say
they have documents in the state
archives to show that in return the
Emperor gave to Italy presents of art
works far n excess of value to those
in controversy, among them being the
priceless collections Of Manfrn and
Bossi.
The Italians also took from the Ma
tiona Library or other places addi-
tonal treasures such as autographs,
musical books and three manuscripts
worth several millions of dollars, one
of which, "Thc Genesis Of Vienna is
said to be the most valuable late Ro-
man manuscript IN existence.
With al these objects safe in Italy
when the peace conference began in
Paris the Italians advanced further
claims for works Of art from Austria,
demanding the pick of pictures from
the National Gallery in Vienna and
virtually all the bronzes and statues
made n Italy or that ever were in Italy.
The objects thus covered were cstimat-
ed = be worth 4,000,000,000 gold
francs
Their claims were rejected, how
ever. by the conference and then began
the Italian effort to effect q special
treaty with Austria 70 obtain her end.
The negotiations proceeded until this
spring, when DR.. Renncr finally signed
it on the occasion of his Italian visit.
Under its term General Segre's seiz-
ures are legalized and q large number
of valuable objects are ceded in addi-
tlOn.
Two Beyond Price
The most important are the Rel-
nuary Of Cardinal Bcssarionc and the
Cross of St. Theodore. The first named
is a remarkable specimen of the Vcne-
tian gothic goldsmiths' art of the tif-
teenth century and the other unique
piece of Bystantine goldsmithy. In
terms Of dollars they are said to be
beyond price. The agreement also
gives to Italy a quantity Of bronzes,
historical relics. manuscripts and other
objects and bron2es of the Renais-
sance,, including Donatellos Angel
Playing the Tambourinc" and two
oronzes by Antco The whole of the
famous Duke de Este collection IS in
GUIDED.
In return Italy renounces her claims
20 certain objects of more or less
ralue, among them the coronation gar
ments Of the old German emperors.
Finally Italy promises her help to save
.he Austrian collections from the claim
Of other powers under Article 1876 OF
.he Treaty Of st. Gcrmain.
According to report there was q
verbal promise on the part OF Italy to
assist Austria wherever possible in the
boundary delimitations now in progress
md certain other political assurances
1t is understood the Austrian section
ST the Reparation Commission IS MAX
ng Inquiries INTO the whole transac-
.ion as it may affect the assets of the