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Show mis SEIZE I TREASURES OF I DID AUSTRIA 1 Reparation Commission to j Probe Looting of Nation's Galleries VIENNA, Nov. 6 tHy the Assoclal- H "i I'res). Tin- government thus far H I tubed to make public the secret H agreement by which Ur Karl Renner. j then chancellor agreed to give to Italy H many valuable works of art, rnauu- H scripts and historical relics not pro- 1 1 ttder In ths I re U Jm despite demands by gfl ; associations and influential persons ll I for that Information. ill The history of the matter is inter- 1 estlng and The Associated Press has i able to learn from authoritative I H v. hlle i-fl 'guarded admissions Of '.be government merally are phrased in the future 'H ! tense as to the delivery of these arti- -H cles, as a matter of fact, they arc all understood to be now in Italian pos- easlon H SI (ZED B1 l i i.l s Their seizure began when the Ital-armistice Ital-armistice commission under Gen-oral Gen-oral Begre, first arrived in Vienna, in Pebruaiy ot las' year. the. contention 'of the commissioners being that un- ! to ienna. In 18 lb and 188S. These II treasures should long since have been -H delivered. Among tho articles Lalven H kJ GSnsro Scgre were the famous tap-1 tap-1 aiiiea ot Montua and as regards them the Austrlans conceded title and aa- isl Isisted In their delivery. H Then began the removal of pictures iM from the Ilof museum and Academy of tH Fine Arts, which had been brought to Vienna in 1-S16 and 1838. These lH ,.il been stored in a church in Venice, log been collected from inan fH liurches In th. Venetian t-rritoi y. li Jl j was done by order of Francis I. then ll reign of Venice which was at that H time a part of tho Austrian empire. H The AustriUns bring forward a supple- H mentary treaty to that of 1866 regard- ing these objects, intended to clear H iltle. They render this clause as fol- H lows. Austria will keep igadera) tho picture exported in 1836 which his S majesty tho emperor some time ago t:ae to the Academy of Pine Arts In H Vienna, and to other galleries in tho H empire." H OENT1 f: OF DJESPTJTE. 9 It Is around th, word "gaderu" that H the Italians center their argument for possession, contending it means "tako In custody" or "tor safe keeping" not JH roacssion or gift. The Austrlans say kM they have documents in the state ar- chives to shov.- that in return the em- afl leror guve to Italy presents of ar: mMW works far in cjcccss of value to thsfio 'LLm In fOntrnvrrw ntnnnr thum k.inn .'SB priceless collections of Manfrln and Bossl. The Italians also took from the National Na-tional library or other places addition- S al treasures such as autographs, mu- H slcal books, and threo manuscripts worth several millions of dollars, ono of which. "The Genesis of Vienna," is Mm said to be the most valuable late. Ro- iH man manuscript In existence. DMAND STILL. MOREL "mM With all these objects safe in Italy when the peace conference began In Paris, the Italians advanced further H claims for works of art from Austria, demanding tho pick of pictures from the national gallery In Vienna and S virtually all the bronzes and statues H made In Italy or that ever were In Italy. The objects thus covered were estimated to he worth about -",000,000,- ' I 000 gold francs. U Their claims were rejected, however, by the conference and then began the Italian effort to effect a special treaty I With Austria to obtain hor end. Tho negotiations proceeded until this VS spring when Dr. Rennor flnoll signed it on the occasion of hLs Italian visit. mM Under Its terms General Begre's teU-ures teU-ures are legalized and a largo number of valuable objects aro ceded In addl- mm The most Important aro th reli- H quary of Cardinal Bessarlono of the cross of St. Theodore. The first named Is a remarkable specimen of the Ve-net Ve-net i m gothlc goldsmlts's art of the fifteenth century anel the other a unique piece of Byzantine goldsmlthy. In terms of dollars they are said to be beyond price The agreement also j gives to Italy a -quantity of bronzes. historical relics, manuscripts and other objects, and bronzes, of the I Renaissance. including Donatello'a "Angel Playing the Tambourine." and two bronzes by Anllco. The whole ot I the famous Duke dc Estc collection U , I included. f I'UOBF TRANSACTION. In return Italy renounces her claims to certain objects of more or less val-He. val-He. among them the coronation gar-incuts gar-incuts of the old German emperors. Finally Italy promises her help to sav e the Austrian collections from the 1 lalms of other powers under artlclo SjH 196 of the treaty of Si Germain. According to the report there was a v erbal promise on the part of Italy to assist Austria wherever possible n the boundary delimitations now in prog- H ress and certain other political assur- It Is understood tha tho Austrian section of the reparation commission 1; making Inquiries into th whole trans. action jvs it may affect the assets of ths country to which the treaty of St Germain gives title. oo |