Show SECRET AGREEMENT EXERCISES AUSTRIANS Artists Protest Return of Masterpieces to Italians VIENNA Nov 6 The G.-The The government thus far has refused to mal make malce e public the secret agreement by which Dr Karl Renner then chanc chancellor agreed to give to Italy many valuable works of art manuscripts and historical relics not provided for surrender In the treaty of St. St Germain despite demands lof of art associations in influential persons persons persons per per- sons for that information I The history of the matter is Interesting interesting inter Inter- esting eating and the Associated Press has I been able to learn from authoritative sources some of its details While the guarded admissions of the government generally are phrased in the future tense as to the delivery of these articles arti arti- cles des as a matter of fact they are arc all understood to be now in Italian pos pos- session Sr BEGINS seizure began when the trie ItalIan Italian Italian Ital Ital- ian armistice commission under General General General Gen Gen- eral Segre first arrived In Vienna In February of last year the contention of the commissioners being that under the treaty of the war of is j these tr treasures should long since have hae been delivered Among the articles taken by General Segre were the famous tap- tap of and as regards them the Austrians conceded title and as assisted assisted as- as slated in their delivery Then began the removal of pictures from the and Academy of Fine Arts which had been brought to Vienna In 1816 and 1838 These had been stored In a church in Venice havIng having haying hav hay ing been collected from many churches n n the Venetian territory It was done by order of Francis I then then- sovereign of Venice which was at that time apart a apart I part of the Austrian empire The Austrians bring forward a supplementary tary treaty to that of 1866 regarding these ese objects intended ed to cle clear title I I They ney render renaer mis clause as fOllOWS Austria will keep the pictures pictures pic pie tures exported In 1838 which his maJesty majesty majesty ma ma- jesty the emperor sometime ago gave to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and to other galleries In the empire WORe It is around the word the Italians center their argument for possession possession possession pos pos- session contending It means take tale In custody or for safe keeping not possession or gift The Austrians say they have documents in the state ar archives archives archives ar- ar chives to show that in return the emperor emperor emperor em- em em em- gave ave to Italy presents of artworks art artworks artworks works far in excess of value to those in controversy among them being beine the thel l priceless collections Manfrin l and Boss Bossi T Tte e Italians also took from the National library or other places additional additional additional addi addi- treasures such as autographs musical books and three manuscripts worth several millions of dollars one of which The Genesis of Vienna Is said to be the most valuable late Roman Roman Ro Ro- man manuscript in existence ITALIAN CLAIMS CLAUIS With all these objects safe in Italy when the peace conference began in Paris Parts the Italians advanced further claims for tor works of art from Austria demanding the pick of pictures from the National Gallery In Vienna and virtually all the bronzes and statues made In Italy or that ever were in Ita Italy The objects thus covered were estimated to be worth about gold francs Their w re rejected however by the conference and then began the Italian effort to effect a special treaty with Austria to obtain her end The negotiations proceeded until this spring when Dr Rennet Renner finally signed it on the occasion n of his Italian visit Under its terms General Segre's seizures seiz selz- urea ures res are J legalized and nd a large number of valuable objects ar are ceded in addi addI- tion VALUED O The most most Important are the Reliquary of Cardinal and the he cross of St. St Theodore The first named is a remarkable specimen of the Venetian gothic goldsmiths' goldsmiths art of f the fifteenth century and the other othera a piece of gold- gold smithy In terms of dollars they are said tf to be beyond price The agreement agreement agree agree- ment also gives to Italy a quantity of bronzes historical relics manuscripts and other i objects and nd bronzes on of the Renaissance t a c including c nd n Donatello's a ln i Angel Playing the and two bronzes of Antico The whole of the famous Duke de Este collection Is included In return Italy renounces her claims to certain objects of more or less them the coronation garments garments gar gar- ments of the old German emperors Finally Italy promises her help to save savo the Austrian collections from the claims of other powers under article of the treaty of St St. Germain According to report there was a verbal promise on the part of Italy to assist Austria wherever possible in the boundary delimitations now in progress and certain other political assurances It is understood the Austrian section sec eec tion of the the- reparation commission Is making inquiries Into the whole transaction transaction trans trans- action as It may affect the assets of the country to which the treaty of St. St Germain title |