Show ENGliSH ELISH BEMOAN lOSS OF BRITAIN'S ART TREASURES Correspondence nce Associated Press LONDON May a 21 The The Inroads made upon Britain's art treasures during the past few years ars b by bythe the Metropolitan museum In New ew York b by private American collectors and by hy the Friedrich museum In Berlin are lamented and reviewed In the report of or a committee of or the trustees of or the British National gallery galler which has hRS Just JURt been made public In the form Corm of or a government o Blue Book The committee which Is headed by Lord Curzon was appointed In 1911 to tu discuss po possible sible steps to enable Great Britain to retain possession of or Important works of or art The lie report shows famous Camous masterpieces s arc are known to have left England In recent years ears The list includes two fifty twenty one twenty-seven twenty Van Dycks ten twenty nine I and thirteen Turners Tho rho great majority of or these have gone to America The The- committee after four tour years years' ears deliberation decided unanimously that It would be unwise for England to enact any law on the lines of or the Italian law pr preventing enting absolutely the I export of ot Important works of or art arL They all also Jo ur urge e against the placing of or 1 an export duty on pictures or a stamp dut duty on sales ales both of or which have been BU suggested d In parliament on i various arlous occasions I The chief chier recommendation In the report is hi that the government SO In Increase Increase increase in- in crease the ordinary annual parliamentary parliamentary parlia parlia- mentar grant to the National gallery gallery gal gal- lr lery from 2 to not less than and that tie the trustees be al alI allowed al- al lowed to retain In their treasury any unspent I balances at the end of the i year In addition to this sum available available avail all I able for tor purchases purchase the trustees I I should be empowered to apply to the government for additional funds runds whenever It Is necessary to make a n I special purchase In order to save masterpieces from being lost to the thet t I nation I As an alternative the committee suggests that a tax be he placed on the I pros gross a proceeds of sales of or works oCI of oC art tort In excess of or a fixed amount this mone money to be added to the grants frants I available a for purchases by the na national national national na- na museums and galleries also that the proceeds of or all Inheritance taxes on works of or art be added to I the same fund The committee plans th the or organization aniza- aniza I tion of or a society society known as the Friends o of Art whose members will contribute certain sums to bo be O as a reserve for the purchase c cf masterpieces 1 |