HC Deb 08 April 1974 vol 872 cc39-40W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he received from the Argentine Government in connection with the sale at Sothebys of the Santamarina Collection of Impressionist paintings; and whether he will make a statement.

Miss Joan Lestor

On 30th March the Argentine Embassy delivered to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office a letter of request from an Argentine judge addressed to the corresponding judge of the City of London, Great Britain ", requesting that the auction be postponed for 90 days to enable the Argentine authorities to start proceedings in connection with the disposal of the paintings. Advice was sought from the Secretary to the Master at the Royal Courts of Justice who indicated that the correct procedure to obtain an injunction to postpone the sale was for the Argentine Embassy to instruct solicitors to make suitable application to the law courts on the basis of the contents of the letter of request. The Argentine Embassy was so advised.

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