Justification given by Huyghe for the confiscation of the Schloss collection

René Huyghe’s version of the status of the collection vis-à-vis the Schloss heirs

Special attention was requested to the fact that this was an important collection (some pieces were painted by Dutch Masters which were not represented at the museum) and that it was imperative that the Louvre does not let the collection slip away, especially not abroad. Mr. Huyghe adds that he had visited and pursued the collection before the war and that he had obtained oral declarations from Mrs Schloss which made him believe that part of the Collection would go to the Louvre. Mrs Schloss died shortly before the war and no arrangements were made for the paintings to go to the Louvre. A conversation with the heirs when the war started was not possible.