Australian art galleries look at policy against plundered art

SYDNEY, March 16 (JTA) — The directors of Australia’s museums and art galleries are reviewing a policy to deal with Nazi-looted art in their country. Although no policy was adopted at a meeting held last week, the directors were given a copy of a statement of principles on the issue, which, in addition to deploring the plunder of art during World War II, includes a commitment to weigh thoroughly and speedily claims of title and a ban on accepting bequests or gifts of looted works. The Association of Art Museum Directors in the United States has already adopted these principles. Each gallery has the authority to adopt or reject the statement, but Bryan Kennedy, the director of the Australian National Gallery, has already committed his museum to review its holdings.