POLISH TREASURE SAFE

Chronicle (Levin), 9 November 1946, Page 5

POLISH TREASURE SAFE

StJBJECT OF DISPUTE BETWEE^ TWO REGIMES Received Fridav, 7 p.m. OTTAWA, Nov. 7. The Polish Minister, Dr. Fiderkiewicz, asserted today that a represehtative of the foriuer " Polish Government Was responsible for the mysterious disappearance of the treasures Wliieh were coittained in 3(5 truiiks. Dr. Swi'er/.-Zaleski, curator of the CracoW treasures, said 100 other pieces

had been retnrned wlien Governmeitt repreHentat i ves claimed tliem. Likewise li.000,00'0 dolhtrs in bullion stored in the Bank of Canada'^ vanlts had been retnrned. Among Ihe treasures recovered were priceless Chopin nutnuscripts, eoronation sword, Gutenberg Bible aad twelfth century prayer books, all of whieh were sent to Canada during the war. Customs ofticials declared that the treasures eould uot be spirited out of Canada without Cdistoms knowledge unless sent in a diplomatie poueh. The Toronto Htar's Qn'ebee eorr'espondent says 28 boxes of Polish treasures are still seeurely hidden in eliureh vaults within a short distanee of Car dinal Yilleneuve's palace. The Stai quotes a palace official as saying tlu only people knowing where the treasures are hidden are iive priests. The treasures will not be surrendered on a mere password. The Ltar eonfirms that 23 othei boxes of Polish treasures were sttr rendered by the authorities of St.

Anrie de Beaupe Bhrine, on thc pass woi'd "lloly Virgin of Czestoehowa. ' . Mr. Maekenzie King, at a Press eon fereuce, said the matter was not a Governmental eom-ern beeause the treasures were privately custodied. He addeil that the Polish Governmenl had not; asked ihe Fanadian Government. i'oi assistanee in the matter. The Toronto Btar's Quebec correspondenf quoted >a liigh Cntholic Church otiieial as sfating: "The. wliole Polish treasure is delinitely safe but at the ipoment it is lost to the present Polish Government. The treasure will be held by the Church until it is established that the present Polish Governinent is the rightful owner. " .The eorrespondent stivs Ihe Church official \s statement eonJirms jirevious reports that the I'trlisli national trea sures are the subjecl of dispute iietween representatives of the defimet govern ment in exile arai the present Polish regime.