§ Q1. Mr. Hamlingasked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce legislation to return the Elgin Marbles to Athens; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)The Elgin Marbles are vested in the Trustees of the British Museum, and I do not propose to introduce legislation to require the Trustees to return them to Athens.
§ Mr. HamlingWould not my right hon. Friend agree that this relic of the cultural imperialism of the 19th century is not in keeping with his own standards? Would he not further agree that this would be an act of grace and would contribute greatly to good relations between ourselves and Greece?
§ The Prime MinisterI am all for acts of grace, but if we were to adopt the principle that all sculptures and other works of art were to return to their place 814 of origin there would be a singularly inequitable distribution of these works of art among the nations of the world.
§ Sir R. ThompsonWhile welcoming the Prime Minister's sturdy reply to this wholly improper suggestion, may I ask him to bear in mind that if it had not been for Lord Elgin's efforts these Marbles would have been ground down to make cement over a hundred years ago and that we are extremely fortunate to be able to display them to the world as well as we can now?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not intend to be brought into questions about the cement shortage, but it is certainly the case that, being in the possession of a very efficient museum authority, they have been extremely well preserved. I do not agree with what the hon. Gentleman said at the beginning—
§ Dame Irene WardIt was a sturdy reply.
§ The Prime MinisterI did not think that it was particularly sturdy—but I feel, as I said before, that there is no automatic principle which we should follow that there should be a redeployment of works of art in accordance with their origin.