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It included a large number of excellent works and others of doubtful merit。
An Emissary to France and Italy
Meanwhile； during the few months after the outbreak of war； the art situation in Europe began to look more hopeful。 It seemed possible that some of the nations concerned in the war would be persuaded to participate。 Captain Asher C。 Baker； Director of the Division of Exhibits； was sent on a special mission to France； sailing from New York early in November。 The United States collier 〃Jason〃 was then preparing to sail from New York with Christmas presents for the children in the war zone； and the secretary of the navy had arranged with the Exposition authorities that； on the return trip； the ship should be used to carry exhibits from Europe。 The first plan was that the exhibits should come only from the warring nations； it was later extended to include other nations。
In Paris Captain Baker found the situation discouraging。 The first official he saw told him that； under the circumstances； any participation of France whatsoever was out of the question： France was in mourning； and did not wish to celebrate anything； if any Frenchman were to suggest participation he would be criticised； furthermore； Albert Tirman； at the head of the French committee that had visited San Francisco the year before to select the site of the French Pavilion； had come back from the front in the Vosges and was hard at work in the barracks of the Invalides； acting as an intermediary between the civil and military authorities。
Then Captain Baker appealed to Ambassador Myron T。 Herrick。 Although the ambassador was enthusiastic for the Exposition； he said that； in such a crisis； he could not ask France to spend the four hundred thousand dollars set apart for use in San Francisco。 Captain Baker said： 〃Don't you think if France came in at this time a wonderfully sympathetic effect would be created all over the United States？〃 The ambassador replied； 〃I do。〃 〃Wouldn't you like to see France participate？〃 The ambassador declared that he would。 〃Will you say so to Mr。 Tirman？〃 The ambassador said； 〃Willingly。〃
A week later Baker and Tirman were on their way to Bordeaux to see Gaston Thomson； Minister of Commerce。 They made these proposals： The exhibits should be carried by the Jason through the canal to San Francisco； the building of the French Pavilion should be undertaken by the Division of Works of the Exposition； on specification to be cabled to San Francisco of the frame work； the moulds for the columns and architectural ornaments to be prepared in France and shipped by express； the French committee of organization was to work in France among possible exhibitors； a statement was to be made to the ministry of what each department of the government could do in sending exhibits and what exhibits were ready； a statement should come from the Minister of Fine Arts as to how much space he could occupy and how many paintings could be secured for the Palace of Fine Arts； a complete representation of the Department of Historical Furniture and Tapestries； known as the Garde Meuble； was to be made for the pavilion。
In the interview with the Minister of Commerce Baker argued that； without France； an Exposition could not be international； and that the participation of France at this time； with her flag flying in San Francisco； would be like winning a battle before the world。 It would show the people of the United States France's gratitude for the money sent the wounded and the suffering； and would warm the hearts of the American people。
Thomson responded with enthusiasm； and soon the government became enthusiastic。 Several thousand dollars were spent in cabling； Henri Guillaume； the distinguished French architect； experienced in many expositions； was sent out。 When the Jason stopped at Marseilles it took； on board one of the most remarkable collections of art treasures ever shipped to a foreign country； the finest things in one of the world's great storehouses of treasure； including even the priceless historical tapestries； and a large collection of French paintings for the Fine Arts Palace； gathered by the French committee after great labor； due to the absence of many of the painters in the war。
When Captain Baker left France he had accomplished far more for the Exposition than he realized himself。 Reports of his success in securing French participation preceded him to Italy and helped to prepare the way。 The Italians listened to his proposition； all the more willingly because France had been won over。 Besides； he had a warm supporter in Ernesto Nathan； ex…Mayor of Rome； who had paid an extended visit to San Francisco and had become an enthusiastic champion of the Exposition。 In a few days he had made arrangements that led to the collection of the splendid display of Italian art； shipped on the Vega； together with many commercial exhibits。 Captain Bakers work in France and in Italy； accomplished within three weeks； was a triumph of diplomacy。
Foreign Participation in General
Germany was not to be completely over…shadowed by France notwithstanding previous indifference on the part of the government。 German manufacturers wished to be represented； and they actually received governmental encouragement。 Austrians； not to be outdone by Italy； unofficially came in。 In fact； despite the war； every country had some representation； England and Scandinavia and Switzerland included； even if they did not have official authority。
There are those who maintain that； in spite of criticism； the Fine Arts Department is now making a better showing than it could have made if there had been no war。 American collectors； with rare canvases； were persuaded to help in the meeting of the emergency by lending work that； otherwise； they would have kept at home。 It was thought that many of the Europeans would be glad to send their collections to this country for safe keeping during war time。 But such proved not to be the case。 A good deal of concern was felt about sending the treasures on so long a journey； subject to the hazards of attack by sea。 Furthermore； from the European point of view； San Francisco seemed far away。
Looking for Art Treasures
A short time after Captain Baker sailed from New York another emissary went abroad for the Exposition； J。 N。 Laurvik； the art critic。 A few weeks before Mr。 Laurvik had returned from Europe； where he had represented the Fine Arts Department； looking for the work of the artists in those countries that were not to participate officially。 At the time of the outbreak he was in Norway and he had already secured the promise of many collections and the co…operation of artists of distinction。 His report of the situation as he left it persuaded the authorities that； in spite of the difficulties； he might do effective work。
When Laurvik arrived in Rome he found that Captain Baker had already prepared for his activities。 Ernesto Nathan was devoting himself heart and soul to the cause。 But the Italian authorities； for the most part； were absorbed in the questions that came up with the threat of war。 Working with the committee； and aided by Ambassador Thomas Nelson Page； Laurvik quickly made progress。 He secured magnificent canvases by the President of the French Academy in Rome； Albert Besnard； painted； for the most part； in Benares； with scenes on the Ganges； and a collection of pieces by the Norwegian sculptor； Lerche。
Notable Collections
From Rome Laurvik went to Venice； where he was greatly helped by the American consul； B。 H。 Carroll； Jr。 Though the International Exhibit held in Venice every two years had closed several months before； many of the works of art were still there； their owners； either afraid or unable to take them away and yet concerned about their being so close to the scene of war。 It was the general concern that enabled Laurvik to secure some of his finest material。 Together with the Italian work； he arranged to have shipped here on the Jason； Norwegian and Hungarian paintings and fifty canvases by the man regarded as the greatest living painter in Finland； Axel Gallen…Kallela。 He also made a short journey from Venice to the home of Marinetti； the journalist； poet and leader of the。 Italian Futurist painters； who； after much persuading； promised to send fifty examples of the work done by the ten leaders in his group。
On leaving Venice Laurvik started for Vienna。 In spite of the war； he was promised support by the Minister of Art。 Unfortunately； the art societies fell to quarreling； and gave little or no help。 Then Laurvik appealed to the artists themselves。 In Kakosha； one of the best known among the Austrian painters； he found an ally。 The collection he made in Vienna included several of Kakosha's canvases； lent by their owners； and a large number of etchings。
The Hungarian Collection
In Hungary Laurvik had a powerful friend in Count Julius Andrassy； a man； of wealth and influence； the owner of one of the newspapers published in Budapest。 From； his own collection of Hungarian art Andrassy made a large contribution and he inspired other collectors to do likewise。 The getting together of the material was full of difficulties。 Much of it had been taken away f