§ Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state why the official statement issued by the director of the National Gallery respecting Lord Lansdowne's offer to sell to the nation for £95,000 Rembrandt's picture, "The Mill," was only sent to one newspaper; and whether he will direct that similar statements shall in future be sent to the Press as a whole?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am informed that the present practice of the National Gallery authorities, when it is thought desirable to send a notice to the Press, is to send it to "The Times" and to a news agency simultaneously. In the particular case referred to the notice was by an oversight sent to "The Times" only.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYWill the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the authorities to the oversight, so as to prevent a repetition of it?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSECertainly.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has 1407 been called to the statement issued by the director of the National Gallery that Lord Lansdowne, having been offered a large price for his picture, "The Mill," by Rembrandt, has offered the refusal of the picture, which is still in his possession, to the trustees of the National Gallery, and has promised a donation of £5,000 towards the purchase of the picture for the nation, and that the matter is now under the consideration of the National Gallery Board; whether the price Lord Lansdowne is asking for his picture is £95,000; whether the picture was bought for less than £1,000 by an ancestor of Lord Lansdowne; and whether, before consenting to subscribe any money from national funds towards the purchase of the picture, he will give the House an opportunity of discussing the proposal?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Marquess of Lansdowne has informed the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery that he has accepted a firm offer of £100,000 for his "Mill," by Rembrandt, the purchaser having agreed to Lord Lansdowne's condition that the nation should be given a prior option of purchase at this price. Lord Lansdowne has said that he would give £5,000 towards a national purchase, but that the purchaser would not allow the option to remain open long. The National Gallery Board have no exclusive information as to prices formerly given for the picture. The funds at the disposal of the trustees are not sufficient to enable them to acquire the picture, and an appeal to the public for subscriptions in aid of purchase could not, in their opinion, properly be made by them. I do not think it would be desirable, in the event of a subscription being raised by other means for the purchase of the picture, to fetter the discretion of Government by giving the pledge requested in the last sentence of the question.