Czars’ Treasures Head to Texas

WASHINGTON — A truck loaded with priceless Romanov paintings and artifacts rumbled away from the Russian Embassy Friday, signaling the end of a three-week dispute between the Yeltsin government and a private foundation.

A collection of the Romanov czars’ crown jewels will join the treasures in Texas, where an exhibit of the collection is due to open at Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts on May 11.

“I’m pleased to announce that the parties have reached an agreement,” said Timothy Dickinson, an attorney for the Russian government, shortly before the white-and-yellow truck left, accompanied by two minivans providing security for the 30-hour drive.

Calling the negotiations over the dispute “difficult and arduous,” Dickinson said there will be more discussions to determine whether the $100 million collection will later travel to Memphis, Tenn., and San Diego.

The showdown between Russian authorities and the American Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation began after a 10-week exhibit of the imperial treasures closed April 13 at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in downtown Washington.

The Russian government, which wants the exhibit returned to Moscow for the 850th anniversary celebration of the city’s founding, had demanded that the jewels, gowns and paintings be turned over immediately to its embassy here.