In those days it was prohibited to take abroad an article designated as a national treasure (a 'national treasure' then is equivalent to an 'important cultural property' under the current Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties), but there were no legal grounds to forbid the taking abroad of any cultural property not being so designated.
当時も、国宝（当時の「国宝」は、文化財保護法における「重要文化財」に相当）指定物件については、日本国外への持ち出しは禁止されていたが、未指定文化財については、国外への持ち出しを禁ずる法的根拠はなかった。