800.515/9–1045: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy)
446. Reurtel 484; Sep 10.44 Text of announcement of removal of German art as revised and approved by Dept is as follows:
“The US Govt is removing from Germany to Continental US certain art objects not readily identifiable as looted property with the sole intention of keeping such treasures safe and in trust for the people of Germany or the other rightful owners. The US Govt will retain these objects of art in its possession only as long as will be necessary to insure their physical safety or until such time as it may be possible to determine the rightful owners.
When the appropriate Allied bodies determine the rightful owners or the return of conditions in Germany whereby the safety of these [Page 949] objects can be definitely assured, they will be distributed according to the directives of such Allied groups.”45
It is expected that more detailed announcement will have to be made in Washington in the near future to counter rumors and anticipated criticism concerning action. Dept will advise you in advance regarding date of such announcement in order to synchronize it with announcement in Germany.46
- Not printed; it requested the text of the announcement to be made regarding the transfer of art to the United States (800.515/9–1945).↩
- In telegram 532, September 15, 1945, 6 p. ,m., from Berlin, Mr. Murphy notified the Secretary of State that the United States Group Control Council planned to make an announcement concerning the removal of art to the United States on September 17. The announcement would employ the wording transmitted by the Department with the additional paragraph: “The return of readily identifiable art objects to the liberated countries is already underway.” (800.515/9–1545)↩
- For the press release from the White House, dated September 26, concerning the transfer, see Department of State Bulletin, September 30, 1945, p. 499.↩