Evening star., 1938-05-26
STRONG j. s. ART
NOTED BY ENVOY
French Ambassador Speaks
as Federation Session
Closes With Dinner.


Expressing admiration for American
architecture, from Jefferson to mod
ern creations" Count Rene de Saint
Quentin, French Ambassador, last
night characterized the United States
as strong enough to open its doors to
foreign influences, because she could
"assimilate them"
The Ambassador spoke to the Amer
ican Federation of Arts at banquet
at the Wardman Park Hotel, closing
its 29th annual convention. Villain
M. Milliken, director of the Cleveland
Museum of Art, reviewed the history
of the federation, praising its leaders,
and predicted bright future.
Philip N. Youtz Of San Francisco
was reelected president. along with
other officers, at the afternoon busi-
ness session. Officers include Robert
Woods Bliss, George H. Myers. both
Of this city, first and second vice
presidents. respectively; Mrs. Robert
Wheelwright, Wilmington. Del, third
vice president: Richard F. Bach. New
York City. secretary; Alfred H. Schoell-
kopf of New York, treasurer, and Horace
H. F. Jayne of Philadelphia, director.
The new trustees named were Gilmore
D. Clarke, chairman OF the Fine Arts
Commission; Daniel Cation Rich, di-
rector of fine arts of the Art Insti-
tute of Chicago: Lawrence Smith, at
torney, of Washington and Philadel-
phia. and Miss Anne Morgan of New
York City, sister of j. P. Morgan.
Discusses French Art.
The French Ambassadors tribute to
the strength Of America came after
discussion of French art and the well
come it had received in this country.
These features of French art" de-
clared the Ambassador, Il mean the
constant collaboration with the art Of
other countries. its stubborn independ-
ence and its power to regenerate it
self. were bound to win over the SYM
pathies of America, that most hospita-
BILE, young and free country, which
may without fear open wide her doors
to foreign influences because she is
strong enough to assimilate them"
Discussing American art, the Am
bassador declared ALLOW me to ex-
press my admiration for your archi-
lecture, from the time when the great
Jefferson inspired the ordinance Of Of
fetal buildings up to the most modern
creations"
Reviews Development.
The French Ambassador briefly re-
viewed the development of French
art, declaring it showed continuity
coupled with such variety Of ar
tistic creation" There is a tendency
in France now, he pointed out, to re
group" all the branches of art. And in
this particular the speaker praised the
very name of the American Fedora
ton of Arts as asserting 1.-The deep
solidarity binding them all"
Art IS independent" declared the
Ambassador, "often rebel. It does
not, of course, disdain official protec-
ton or support, but it is easier for a
government to enforce law than to
secure the triumph of some form Of
esthetics"
Mr.. Milliken, in reviewing the or
ganization's "creditable past" recalled
the association with the group Of the
late Robert w. De Forest, its second
president, long president Of the Met
ropolitan Museum of Art, New York
City; Leila Mechlin, art critic of The
Evening Star; Frederic Allen Whiting,
once director of the Cleveland Museum
of Arts and the federation's president
from 1880 to 1886.
Mr.. Milliken pointed out that al
though the nature Of the federations
financial support had changed, the
need for the services it Is so well
equipped to render on national scale
is steadily mounting. 1T is more nee
eessary than ever to tighten the belt"
he said, "and then on basis Of care
fully planned economy push for
ward"
The reelected president, Mr.. Youtz,
in closing the banquet declared that
"it is a good thing for art to have a
sound economic basis" Explaining
that the public had doubled its sub
scriptions to the organizations Maya
zine of Art, he declared that Il
know this country is esthetically safe
and has an esthetic destiny" Among
Mr.. YOUTHS recommendations in his
annual report was one to improve the
highways not only by making them
safer, but also by making them more
attractive through restriction Of out
door advertising" He expressed the
need Of q clubhouse for the federation.
The toastmaster at the banquet was
DR.. r. p. Keppel, president OF the
Carnegie Corp. Of New York.