840.403/88½
The Assistant Secretary of State (Berle) to Justice Owen J. Roberts, Chairman of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in Europe
My Dear Mr. Justice: The President referred to the Secretary of State a letter of August 12, 1943 from the Honorable Archibald MacLeish suggesting the desirability of effecting some international agreement to restrict the transfers of valuable books in the liberated areas of Europe and to protect cultural materials against disposition under the pressure of economic distress. For your information a copy of Mr. MacLeish’s letter is enclosed.15
Secretary Hull in a letter of September 13, 194315 informed the President that he believed it would be desirable for the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in Europe to undertake a thorough study of this question and to make appropriate recommendations before any approaches are made to foreign governments in this regard. The Secretary added that if this procedure met with the President’s approval, he would submit the question to your Commission and that he also had in mind consulting the appropriate national and international bodies with a view to obtaining technical information at their disposal as well as their suggestions concerning the most effective means of assuring [Page 483] successful international cooperation in achieving the objectives described by Mr. MacLeish.
The President approved these suggestions and I am therefore writing to inquire whether the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in Europe will be willing to undertake a study of this proposal and communicate its recommendations to the Department.16 In the meantime, the Department will initiate its consultation with the appropriate national and international groups.
I am confident that Mr. MacLeish will be glad to assist the other members of the Commission in connection with the proposed inquiry.
Sincerely yours,
[For texts of orders with respect to the protection of historic monuments issued on December 29, 1943, by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, and by General Walter Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces, see the United Nations Review, volume IV, 1944, No. 3, pages 93–94.]