My dear Mrs. Force and Dr. Clapp:
I have received your letter of May 9, 1946, and its enclosed resolution, signed by 95 of your colleagues, urging the President to order the immediate safe return to Germany of the 200 paintings which were brought to this country last year.
When these paintings were found by our forces in southern Germany every effort was made to assure their preservation. It soon became evident that adequate facilities and personnel to ensure their safe keeping could not be guaranteed. Consequently our military authorities, realizing the magnitude of their responsibility in preserving these priceless treasures, requested that they be relieved of this heavy responsibility and that the paintings be shipped to this country where they could be properly cared for. This Government reluctantly gave its approval to this request, knowing that such action would lead to criticism of its motives. The decision was taken because there seemed no other way to ensure preservation of these unique works of art. In order to dispel doubts as to the reasons for this action the White House released a statement to the press on September 26, 1945, which explained the situation and included a pledge that the paintings would be returned to their rightful owners. That pledge still holds good and while a definite date for the return of the paintings to Germany has not as yet been set, you may rest assured that this will be done as soon as conditions warrant.
The resolution also recommended that plans to exhibit these paintings in this country be cancelled and that further shipments of German works of art to this country be countermanded. I have never heard of any plans to make additional shipments of works of art from Germany to the United States nor do I know of any plans to exhibit the paintings which are now in this country.
Sincerely yours,
For the Secretary of State:
(signed) Dean Acheson
Under Secretary.
Following are Dr. Clapp’s and Mrs. Force’s replies, also released on June 10:
June 3, 1946