[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 55 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3890-S3891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DISPOSITION OF LOOTED ARTWORK

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, when the Banking Committee began the 
inquiry into Swiss banks, we had no idea where the trail would lead. We 
know that the Nazis had looted personal belongings of millions from all 
over Europe--gold, personal matters, bank accounts. But we really did 
not know how much help--I say ``help''--that the Nazis had in disposing 
of this loot. We are beginning to get some idea. Now we have a better 
idea.
  We know that Swiss banks facilitated the looting of gold from all 
over Europe. We know that the accounts of great numbers of Holocaust 
victims were never returned by Swiss banks to their heirs. But we also 
know that our Nation had similar problems. Other nations had similar 
problems and participated. France was one of them.
  I am shocked to see a December 1995 report which I am holding here 
from the French Ministry of Justice.
  Mr. President, this report details an audit of some of France's most 
prestigious museums and explains how these museums for over 50 years 
managed to hide their ownership of almost 2,000 works of art--1,955 
works of art, to be precise, art that was looted from the victims of 
the Holocaust and deposited with these museums during the war, some of 
them sold on the so-called black market by the Nazis, who stripped 
Europe, who stripped individuals as they came through with their 
killing machine and sold the art or deposited it with these museums 
that knew they were not the true owners who were selling it to them.
  Curator after curator cared more about the so-called, to use their 
words, sanctity of their collections, the museum's collections than for 
justice of the family from which art work was stolen. This is 
unconscionable for the museum to be saying, and I quote the museum in 
Versailles, the curator said, ``Each and every one of these works has 
its proper place in our collections.'' Do not disturb them. It does not 
matter that they were stolen. It does not matter that it was their 
property.
  The report also quotes a curator from the Musee d'Orsay as having 
said that a painting held in his collection by Gustave Courbet, the 
great painting of the Cliffs at Etretat After a Storm--and here is a 
photograph of that painting; it is one of the great masterpieces of the 
world--is one of the masterpieces that we would have to buy at a great 
price if we did not already have it.
  Well, they may have it, but who does it rightfully belong to? Are we 
saying that the great art museums of the world, and particularly in 
France, have a right to keep this stolen art work?
  Mr. President, this painting sits today in the Musee d'Orsay and the 
simple matter is that it does not belong to that museum. This painting, 
along with thousands of others and with other art objects in the French 
museums, should be immediately turned over to an independent authority 
to quickly establish its rightful ownership. The French Government has 
established a commission to study the problem but the true owners 
should not have to put up with the delays that go along with 
commissions like this. It has been 50 years, as the report states. The 
French museums have made little

[[Page S3891]]

or no attempt to find either the heirs or the owners of these art 
works. These works have appeared in exhibits numerous times, have been 
in possession of the most prominent art museums in the world. The 
process of returning these works of art must be put in the hands of a 
party that can search for true owners and do so without a worry whether 
or not they fit neatly into museum collections. After more than 50 
years, it is time for justice. And just as we seek that proper 
accounting from the Swiss bankers, it is time that French museums do 
the same.
  Mr. President, almost 3 weeks ago, I wrote to the French Ambassador, 
a letter dated April 8, which I will submit for the Record and ask 
unanimous consent that it be printed.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

         U.S. Senate, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
           Affairs,
                                    Washington, DC, April 8, 1997.
     His Excellency Francois Bujon de l'Estang,
     Ambassador, The French Embassy,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Ambassador Bujon de l'Estang: As you are probably 
     aware the Senate Banking Committee, of which I chair, is 
     currently conducting an investigation into the disposition of 
     heirless assets belonging to victims of the Holocaust. One of 
     the subjects of our investigation is the disposition of 
     artwork looted by the Nazis during the Second World War. It 
     is my understanding that there are currently 1,995 pieces of 
     such artwork in storage in Paris. Could you please provide me 
     with a descriptive list of this artwork. Additionally, could 
     you inform me of the steps your country has taken to identify 
     the rightful owners of these works of art and the numerous 
     dormant French bank accounts belonging to victims of the 
     Holocaust. Thank you for your cooperation in this very 
     important matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Alfonse D'Amato,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. D'AMATO. My office has been in touch with the French Embassy and 
has been assured of their cooperation repeatedly. I told them I was 
going to come to the floor today. We called them. We were assured by 
the Ambassador's secretary, oh, yes, we are going to get you this 
information.
  This is not a great secret. This Justice Ministry report again goes 
back to 1995. The quotes that I have given you come from this report in 
terms of the attitude of the museums.
  So whether it is ``Cliffs at Etretat'' or whatever artwork it is that 
has been stolen and taken illegally, it is time now for a proper 
accounting. That is what we seek. We will continue to pursue this 
matter. I hope that the French Ambassador and the French Government 
would begin to work with us in accommodating justice.
  I thank my friends. I yield the floor.
  Mr. KERRY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted 
to proceed as if in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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