§ Captain RANKINasked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in the summer of 1918, Mr. Nevinson, Mr. Everett, and other eminent artists, lent a valuable collection of their war pictures, representing many months' work, for exhibition to the United States of America; whether assurance was given that these pictures would be used for propaganda purposes only and would be returned on the conclusion of hostilities; whether, by a con tract made without the knowledge or consent of the artists, these pictures have, since the conclusions of hostilities, passed into the hands of the Worcester, United States of America, Art Exhibition, which 1725W is obtaining financial profit therefrom; and whether he will undertake that these pictures are fothwith returned to their owners or liberated for purposes of sale in the United States of America?
§ Sir A. MONDThe arrangements as to these pictures were made by the late Ministry of Information, for which I was not responsible. I am informed that the answer to the first and second parts is in the affirmative, but that no assurance as to the return of the pictures on the conclusion of hostilities was given. The pictures, I understand, have been exhibited by arrangement with the Worcester Art Museum, U.S.A., but that, after paying all expenses, no profit has been derived from their exhibition. I am informed that the exhibition has now been closed and that arrangements are now being made to collect the pictures in New York and return them to this country, with the exception of those borrowed from Mr. Nevinson, which, at his desire, will remain in New York.