San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-19
j. 8. SEIZED
COLLECTION
BY. MISTAKE
Had Guaranteed Valuables
Would Be Taken Safely
Back to Europe.
EXHIBIT CARED FOR
Await Word From Austro-
Hungary Owners as to
Its Disposition.

Washington, ID. c., March 18th
United States has in It's possession q
collection of works of art from Aus
tria- Hungary, valued at close to $780,
900 and doesn't know what to do with
it. Although taken over by the alien
property custodian during the war, il
is now admitted that it should not
have been classified as alien-owned
property within the meaning of the
trading with the enemy act, and should
be restored TO its owners without de-
lay or expense to them.
This valuable collection, consisting
of paintings, miniatures, sculptures
bronzes, embroideries, glassware AND
exquisite china, was assembled al
Budapest two years before his coun
try entered the war. 1t was loaned
to the United States for exhibition al
the Panama-pacific international Elk
position and the duly authorized rep
resentatives of that exposition guaran
teed it against all risks to and Sron
America and assumes full responsible
ty for its safe return to Budapest
Contract Was Sanctioned.
That this contract was sanctioned
BY the United States government is
shown by the fact that the naval col
lier Jason was placed at the disposal
Of the exposition managers and 1t was
in this vessel that the collection was
brought to this country.
With the wal raging in Europe and
on the high seas it was not deemed
advisable to return this collection IA
Budapest when the exposition closed
and when this country entered the wal
it was taken over by the alien prop
erty custodian. No one now seems "a
know just why this was done but il
was discovered by Col. Thomas III
Miller, when he became alien prop
erty custodian.
On his first trip to the Pacific
coast Colonel Miller investigated the
situation and found the collection
housed in an old non-fireproof build
ing. He at once arranged to have il
placed in the Palace of Fine Arts
in San Francisco and the Congress
which has just adjourned, provided
an appropriation of $S324 with which
to have the collection insured and
other expenses incurred in connection
with it.
Y. S. in Quandary.
While it is admitted the collection
should be returned to the OWL ers, this
is rendered difficult by the situation
existing in Europe. particularly in the
former empire Of Austro-Hungary,
Moreover there is nov no market for
such art collections as this in Europe
and it is suggested hat il the owners
desire to dispose Of the articles loaned
this could be done greatly to their ad'
vantage in this country. Negotiations
to find out what they desire in regard
to this matter have been undertaken
by the alien property office.
The collection consists Of e27 cata-
logued subjects, although it is said
the individual number of pieces is far
in excess Of this. 1t is declared by
conniisseurs to Le one Of tie finest
collection IF art an art works OF
Austro-Hungary in existence and II
the sale is authorized in this country,
will. it is believed, yield lart, re-
turn 70 the owners, for the valuation
of S250.000. at which it was held, was
placed before the war.