Sincerely yours,
For the Acting Secretary of State:
James W. Riddleberger
Chief, Division of Central European Affairs[6]
In April the author of this book received from Frederick Mortimer Clapp, director of the Frick Collection, New York, the following letter regarding the removal of German-owned works of art to this country. A copy of the resolution which accompanied this letter and a list of those who subsequently signed the resolution are also printed below.
1 East 70th Street
New York 21, New York
April 24, 1946
Dear
Since we believe that it is impossible to defend on technical, political or moral grounds the decision to ship to this country two hundred internationally known and extremely valuable pictures belonging indisputably, by prewar gift or purchase, to German institutions, notably the Kaiser Friedrich Museum of Berlin, we propose to memorialize the President in a resolution to be signed by a group of like-minded people interested in or associated with the arts.
We also intend to point out that no reason can be found for even temporarily alienating these works of art from the country to which legally they belong.
We represent no organized movement or institution. We merely wish as American citizens to go on record by appealing to our government to set right an ill considered action arising from an error of judgment which, however disinterested in intention, has already done much to weaken our national condemnation of German sequestrations of the artistic heritage or possessions of other nations under the subterfuge of “protective custody,” or openly as loot.