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July 28, 1953

Dear Mr. Haas:

Will you allow me to tell you that I am a little surprised not to have received an answer to the cable I sent you in connection with the two paintings shipped by K.L.M. air.

It was only two days later that my firm got your letter and the Consular invoice indicating the date of the shipment. As a result of not having received your cable answer I am leaving New York today without having been able to see the two paintings about which I had contemplated taking immediate steps. Now I will not be in a position to do anything until the beginning of September, as my firm will be closed during the whole month of August. For, had I known the date of the shipment by air (which Keating, by the way, did not know either) I could have taken preliminary measures allowing a quicker clearing of the two paintings.

I would seem to me that if I go to the trouble and expense of sending you a cable I must have a good reason for doing this and that elementary courtesy would be for your firm to answer me similarly by calbe - also, as I was requesting a cable answer.

I have also noticed on your consular invoice an indication which bothers me very much is the 16 35/100% that you declare as the value those painting would have in Paris above my cost price.  First of all, I do not understand such a declaration, which I have never seen before, and is a purely arbitrary one, as you know so well, when it comes to works of art so difficult to set a value on.  Furthermore, it alters the valuation on the Consular invoices which, as I explained to you in Paris, have to tally exactly with my own books of accounting...!! Would you be good enough to explain the purpose and meaning of this?

I understand that the shipment by S.S. Flandres has arrived. Of course, I will not be able to see it either before leaving and do hope it will be cleared before the end of the week.

Looking forward to hearing from you and with best regards,

Sincerely yours,
(Germain Seligman)

Monsieur Rene Haas
Arthur Lenars and Company
22 bis, rue de Paradis
Paris
FRANCE