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April 24th., 1947

Dear Colin:

As it was to be expected you had hardly left my gallery yesterday, when our accountant handed me the documents we were looking for regards the agreement in connection with the Roger Van der Weyden Portrait. As I suspected it was kept in his special files.

Now, since talking to you it has occurred to me that, if I understood you correctly, were you to sell the painting within the next two or three months, Mr. John M. Schiff's funds, as well as ours, would remain in England, unavailable to us here. Such an eventuality had never been of concern to me, as I always thought that being American property, the proceeds would be allowed to leave the country.

Should you concur with me that such a threat would be pending in case of sale, then as long as the painting has not been sold in the last few years, it would be wiser, just looking at it from the angle of the princip^[[al]], to have it back in New York.

I would feel very badly, in view of the complete faith Mr. Schiff has had in my recommendations, if I had given him such poor advice in allowing this painting to be sold in England, under these conditions.

I am certain that you will understand the true spirit which prompts me to write in this vein, and looking forward to seeing you again before you leave,

Sincerely yours,
(Germain Seligman)

Mr. Colin Agnew
St. Regist Hotel
5th Ave., and 55th St.
New York, N.Y.

^[[GS]]