HC Deb 08 December 1943 vol 395 c943
1. Mr. Keeling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any evidence that works of art stolen from enemy-occupied countries are in the personal possession of Nazi leaders?

The Minister of State (Mr. Richard Law)

There have undoubtedly been cases where works of art have been removed from occupied territory and sent to Germany. I have also seen reports in the Press to the effect that certain art treasures have passed into the personal possession of Nazi leaders, but I have no official confirmation of this.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Will the return of every object of art stolen from the plundered peoples be a condition of any armistice?

Mr. Law

I should have thought that that would have been a very suitable condition. But my hon. and gallant Friend will remember that the Allied Governments made a declaration in January last that works of art, and indeed other property, sold by the Germans to neutral countries would not possess a clean title.

Mr. Hannah

Did we not manage something of the sort after the Napoleonic wars?