HL Deb 03 November 1970 vol 312 cc283-6

2.48 p.m.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government in view of the involvement of Lord Byron and the assistance of other British philhellenes in the Greek War of Independence against the Turks, whether they will encourage British participation in the 1971 Athens Festival and other cultural activities in Greece on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of that Independence.]

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are aware that many people will wish that the British association with this event should be marked in an appropriate manner. Various possibilities are being considered, but I am not in a position to say anything more definite at the present moment.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that very limited reply, may I ask whether he would not agree that it would be highly desirable that there should be British participation next year in Greece, in view of the fact that Byron is an eminent British poet and is also a Greek national hero? May I ask my noble friend whether Her Majesty's Government would be willing to support, through the auspices of the British Council, an exhibition either in London or in Athens, with Byron and the Greek War of Independence as its theme?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I am well aware of Lord Byron's connection with Greece's independence, and there may well be something in the idea which my noble friend has just mooted. I do not think it would be helpful if I were to go into any detail at the present time about what particular form of participation, if any, we may take in this historical event, because at the present time these matters are under discussion privately between the parties concerned.

LORD BURNTWOOD

My Lords, if participation of this nature is approved, will the Minister consider the return to the Erectheum of the caryatid which was removed a long time ago for reasons which might have been good at the time, but which no longer hold good, bearing in mind that the Greeks, in the long run, will rid themselves of tyranny?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, before replying to the noble Lord's supplementary question may I congratulate him on the first supplementary question which he has put in your Lordships' House? Possibly the question would be more properly addressed to my noble friend Lord Eccles in both his present and his previous capacity, but I will see that this matter is brought to the attention of those concerned.

LORD BALOGH

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he does not consider that Lord Byron would turn in his grave if he had an exhibition in his honour in present-day Athens?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I do not think it is for me to speculate on that particular matter. All I would permit myself to add is that Lord Byron, if he were able to do so, would, like Her Majesty's Government, look forward, as we do, to the restoration of democratic liberties in Greece.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he is not aware that Lord Byron would surely have approved of the decision of the Greek Government to support our fight against the axis in 1940, albeit a decision taken by a dictator?

EARL JELLICOE

Yes, my Lords.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, may I finally ask my noble friend whether Her Majesty's Government will bear very much in mind the fact that since 1966 there has been no British orchestra, no British ballet company and no British theatrical company appearing at the Festival, while in effect the Iron Curtain countries, particularly this year and last year, have sent a number of orchestras? Is it not rather ridiculous that Iron Curtain countries should be sending orchestras while we do not send any at all?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I must confess that I am imperfectly informed about what particular orchestral dispositions the Iron Curtain countries have made. But the consideration which he has put to your Lordships will be in our minds.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, would the noble Earl state whether he considers that as a matter of principle our cultural activities in Greece ought to be increased or diminished, quite regardless of the political complexion of the Government of that country?

EARL JELLICOE

I should like to say that Her Majesty's Government would favour, within the limited means available in this matter—and the priorities— an extension of cultural contact between the two countries, between which there is a long and traditional friendship.

VISCOUNT TENBY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether Lord Byron would undoubtedly prefer a colonels' régime to a Fascist régime, but at the same time he would definitely not approve of the present régime in Greece?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think these hypothetical questions about what Lord Byron might or might not like go a little beyond the particular Question. All I would say is that, like the noble Lord, I am a great admirer of Lord Byron as a letter writer; and no doubt the noble Lord has read the views of Lord Byron on the Greek situation in 1821.