§ SIR HENRY HOWORTH (Salford, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will place upon the Table of the House the correspondence between the Government and the trustees of the British Museum in reference to the proposed removal of Celtic antiquities from the British Museum; also whether
* See The Parliamentary Debates [Fourth Series], Vol. lxix., p. 787.792 he will postpone further proceedings in respect to the transference of Celtic antiquities from the British Museum to Dublin until the House of Commons has had an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject.
§ The following questions on the same subject like wise appeared on the Paper:—
§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the announcement that the Government intend to take legal proceedings against the trustees of the British Museum with the object of obtaining possession of certain Celtic antiquities, and of the importance of exercising impartially the Royal Prerogative of the Crown with respect to treasure trove, he will cause an investigation to be made into the title of the trustees of the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin in respect of similar Celtic antiquities in their custody.
§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONTo ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will include in the Papers promised to be laid upon the Table, in reference to the correspondence of the Treasury with the Trustees of the British Museum, a copy of the regulations or minutes issued by the Treasury in respect to treasure trove since the passing of the-Civil List Act, 1837, by which treasure trove, as one of the hereditary revenues of the Crown, was transferred to the-Treasury; and also a note of the legal proceedings, if any, which have been instituted since 1837 for the recovery of treasure trove.
§ MR. VICAEY GIBBS (Hertfordshire,. St. Albans)To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, before the Government takes proceedings against the Trustees of the British Museum to compel the restitution of certain Celtic ornaments, an opportunity will be given to the House of Commons to express its opinion as to the advisability of such action; and if so, on what Vote.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI stated yesterday in answer to a question put by the right hon. Gentleman opposite that a, summary of the correspondence between the Government and the Trustees of the British Museum in reference to the gold Celtic antiquities would be laid on the Table of the House. The only purpose 793 of the proceedings to be taken is to decide the question of law whether the ornaments are treasure trove or not; and I do not think a debate in the House would be of any advantage in settling that legal point. I may remind my hon. friend that the question was discussed briefly last Friday, when the British Museum Vote was taken.* The Government are not prepared to cause a general inquiry to be made as to the title on which the trustees of the national museums of the three countries hold various articles in their possession. Such an inquiry would be endless, and would serve no useful purpose; nor do I think it desirable to include in the Papers that will shortly be laid before the House a great mass of documents that have accumulated during the last sixty-three years for which my friend the hon. Member for Oswestry asks. I am advised that they are very bulky, and that their publication would be expensive. Under these circumstances, unless my hon. friend can give some other reason which I have not now in my possession, I do not think any public advantage would be gained by presenting these Papers to the House.
§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any legal proceedings similar to those now proposed with regard to the British Museum have been taken during the present reign?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI should think not, Sir. Certainly I am not aware that any other semi-public Department like the British Museum has refused to accept the law as laid down by the Law Officers of the Crown.