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| Registry Number: UE 3788/123/77. Works of art belonging to the late Baron de Rothschild. Letter from Mr Coulson at the Foreign Office to Herbert Smith and Company, solicitors, referring to correspondence with the Foreign Office regarding the inventory of works of art belonging to the late Baron de Rothschild, dated 4 September 1945. Provides details of real estate in Vienna owned by Baroness de Rothschild and requests that the necessary authorities are informed of her claim in order to protect her interests. Asks also that details of any works of art referred to in an enclosed copy of a letter to the British Committee for the Preservation and Restitution of Works of Art may be passed to Herbert Smith and Company should they be recovered, dated 1 July 1945. Letter from Herbert Smith to the Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, conveying that Baroness Clarice de Rothschild's estate at Langau in Austria has been completely looted by Russian occupation troops and requesting the protection of His Majesty's Government with regard to this matter, dated 8 October 1945. States that 'we shall be obliged if steps can be taken to recover this property on behalf of our client'. Letter from Mr Mackenzie at the Foreign Office to Herbert Smith and Company, stating that the request to protect the interests of Baroness de Rothschild has been transmitted to the relevant British military authorities concerned for such action as they may be able to take, dated 25 October 1945. Letter from Herbert Smith to the Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, enclosing a list of Baroness de Rothschild's real estate in Vienna, Austria, dated 22 August 1945. Encloses a list of looted works of art in a letter to the Macmillan Committee, asking that if her art is found, Herbert Smith and Company should be informed. Letter from Herbert Smith and Company, solicitors, to Miss Clay, Assistant Secretary of the Macmillan Committee, enclosing a list of Baroness Clarice de Rothschild's works of art that have been looted, dated 11 July 1945. Specific works of art include: A Rembrandt Portrait, 'Portrait of a Lady' by Romney, 'Blind Man's Buff' by Fragonard, 'Portrait of a Lady in a Ruff' by Frans Hals, 'Portrait of a Man' by A van Dyck, 'A Garden Scene' by Watteau, 'Portrait of a Man' by Frans Hals, 'Portrait of a Young Man' by Hans Holbein. Copies of this letter were sent by Mr Mackenzie at the Foreign Office to Lt-Col Sir L Woolley at the War Office, dated 1 September 1945. A copy was sent to Mr Carter at the Trading with the Enemy Department, dated 4 September 1945. A copy was sent to J R Trevaldwyn at the War Office, dated 25 October 1945. Letter from Mr Trevaldwyn at the War Office to Mr Mackenzie at the Foreign Office, stating that this correspondence had been forwarded to the Property Control Branch at the War Office, dated 27 October 1945. Letter from Herbert Smith and Company to the Under Secretary of State, acknowledging that the British military authorities were now taking action to protect Baroness de Rothschild's property at Langau, dated 29 October 1945. |
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