via facsimile: 011-43-1-533-7797

Fr. Bundesministerin Elisabeth Gehrer
Minoritenplatz 5
A-1014 Wien

Re: Estate

Sehr geehrte Frau Bundesministerin:

 It is with great sadness that the heirs of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer learned of your decision to follow the recommendation of the Beirat not to return the five Klimt paintings stolen from Ferdinand and donated under duress to the Austrian Gallery after the war in exchange for export permits for other paintings.  I have already written you two letters detailing the numerous factual and legal errors upon which this decision was apparently based.

 As you well know, we were prohibited from taking any part in the proceedings of the Beirat, so we could not respond and correct these errors, although the law seems to provide for this possibility.  Despite my repeated requests, both in writing and in person, neither Dr. Wran, nor Dr. Kremser, nor Prof. Bacher would discuss with me any details of the case, or provide me with any information concerning the arguments in opposition to restitution.  Only on July 1, after the decision had already been made, did I receive Dr. Kremser's lengthy legal argument, dated June 10. Dr. Wran and Dr. Kremser apparently refused to give the other members of the Beirat the two legal opinions we had obtained from Dr. Andreas Lintl, which absolutely refute Dr. Kremser's untenable position concerning the legal significance of Adele Bloch-Bauer's will, and therefore took away the chance that the Beirat could make an informed decision.

 The family is convinced that you have been misled by your advisors, because otherwise a person of your reputation would not make such ill-advised statements as those we have recently read in the newspapers.

 For example, you have written that "Die Gemälde wurden weder während des Krieges geraubt, noch nach dem Krieg restituiert und aufgrund des Ausfuhrverbotsgesetzes dabehalten." You should know by now that this is simply not true. Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer wrote on October 8, 1942 in exile in Zurich:  "In ungerechten Weise hat man mir in Wien eine Steuerstrafe von einem Millionen Mark vorgeschrieben und mir meinen gesamten Besitz in Wien beschlagnahmt und veräussert."   The Nazi lawyer appointed to liquidate Ferdinand's estate, Dr. Erich Führer, traded two paintings (Adele Bloch-Bauer I and Apfelbaum) and sold one (Adele Bloch-Bauer II) to the Österreichische Galerie. He sold Birkenwald to the Städtische Sammlungen and kept Häuser in Unterach Attersee for himself.

 After the war, Dr. Gustav Rinesch attempted, first on behalf of Ferdinand and then, after Ferdinand's death in November 1945, on behalf of Ferdinand's heirs, to recover the five Klimt paintings and other artworks.  Häuser in Unterach am Attersee was apparently retrieved from the imprisoned Dr. Führer and kept in the apartment of Karl Bloch-Bauer, pending a request for export permits.  The Städtische Sammlungen agreed in 1947 to return Birkenwald to Ferdinand's heirs. Only the Österreichische Galerie refused to return the three paintings it had taken from Ferdinand's collection during the war. Instead, Dr. Karl Garzarolli prepared to sue the heirs and on April 2, 1948 wrote to Dr. Otto Demus of the Bundesdenkmalamt with regard to the Klimt paintings and other artworks in Ferdinand's collection:  "Ich bitte die Erwerbungs-und Tauschvorhaben erst dann laut werden zu lassen, wenn von der Finanzprokuratur der Zeitpunkt hierfür als gegeben wird, d.h. also, daß aus taktischen Gründen um eine verzögernde Behandlung gebeten wird."

 Dr. Demus then telephoned Dr. Rinesch, informing him that the Österreichische Galerie desired a number of artworks from Ferdinand's collection, including the Klimt paintings. Based on this phone call, Dr. Rinesch decided (without first obtaining the informed consent of his clients) to agree to donate the Klimt paintings to the Österreichische Galerie in order to get the absolutely necessary support of Dr. Garzarolli for export permits for the other paintings by Waldmüller, Danhauser, Pettenkofen, Rudolf von Alt, etc. Dr. Rinesch met with Dr. Garzarolli to confirm this deal on April 10, 1948 -- the same day he first saw Adele's will and concluded "Dies ist zwar nicht die Form eines Legats."  On April 13 Dr. Rinesch sent his 5-page request for export permits for the rest of the Bloch-Bauer collection to Dr. Demus, with a copy to Dr. Garzarolli adding "Ich verlasse mich auf Ihr Gerechtigkeitsgefühl."

 The fact that we have documents to evidence all these events is, after 50 years, amazing. The fact that the Beirat simply ignored them is even more incredible.  Minister Gehrer, what do you suppose Dr. Demus said to Dr. Rinesch in his April telephone conversation, which led Dr. Rinesch only days later to agree to give up the Klimt paintings to Dr. Garzarolli?   If this was not a gift made under duress, then what is?

 Minister Gehrer, you have within your power the ability to rectify this error in judgment of the Beirat. Based on its improper handling of the matter, we do not believe the Beirat can be trusted to give an impartial recommendation, even if you now directed its members to consider the relevant documents and allow the heirs to participate, as the law permits. Therefore, I propose that we select a panel of neutral arbitrators to review the documents and legal opinions of both sides and come to a final conclusion that everyone can live with.  If the Beirat's conclusion is correct, then the federal government has nothing to fear from this procedure. However, if the Beirat has misled you, then justice can be done and the artworks can finally be returned to their rightful owners.

   Very truly yours,

   E. Randol Schoenberg

cc:  Hubertus Czerninb
cc:  Maria Altmann
 Francis Gutmann
 George Bentley
 Trevor Mantle
 Stephen D. Alexander, Esq.

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