- Mr Khan said museum should come to ‘accommodation’ with Greek government
- Noel Malcolm said he has ‘no more authority… than any man or woman in street’
A leading expert on the Elgin Marbles has blasted Sadiq Khan’s claims that the treasures should be ‘shared’ between London and Greece.
The London Mayor said earlier this month the British Museum should come to ‘an accommodation’ with the Greek government over the treasures, which were taken from the Acropolis of Athens at the beginning of the 19th century.
But Sir Noel Malcolm, the author of a recent report into the artefacts which concluded they were not taken illegally by Lord Elgin, told MailOnline: ‘He has no more authority on this issue than any other man or woman in the street.’
He insisted that Mr Khan’s position does not stack up because of the ‘fundamental problem’ that Greece does not recognise the British Museum’s ownership of the Marbles, with their official position being that they were ‘stolen’.
The Museum could therefore run the risk of losing the Marbles forever if they strike any deal which would see some or all of the objects be ‘loaned’ to Greece.
Sir Noel concluded in his report for Policy Exchange that Greece’s claim is incorrect and instead showed how Lord Elgin, then the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, had permission to take the Marbles.
Mr Khan had told Greek newspaper Ta Nea: ‘I obviously want Londoners to be able to see the Elgin Marbles, but I don’t see why the British Museum, the British government, the government of Greece and the museum in Athens can’t come to an accommodation to share these wonderful, wonderful Elgin Marbles.’
The London mayor added: ‘It is important for us to recognise that actually, not all the exhibits that are in the British Museum are ones that should just stay in London.’
His comments were at odds with the position of the Government, which has so far rejected any calls to negotiate with Greece of the ancient artefacts.
Former chancellor George Osborne, who is now chairman of the British Museum, has been exploring the possibility of returning the 2,500-year-old antiquities to their homeland as part of a ‘cultural exchange’.
But UK law prevents the museum from giving away objects in its collection.
Sir Noel, the author books including how the Ottoman Empire was perceived in the West, told MailOnline: ‘Sadiq Khan says he doesn’t see why the Elgin Marbles can’t be shared with Greece.
‘There is a fundamental problem, which he should be able to see quite clearly: Greece does not recognise the British Museum’s ownership of the Marbles.
‘The Greek government’s official position is that the Marbles were “stolen”, and that they rightfully belong to Greece.
‘This means that the Trustees of the British Museum would be failing in their duties if they sent any of the Marbles to Greece, as they could not be confident that they would get them back.
‘Even if the Greek government gave a formal guarantee, an individual or organisation might bring a case in the Greek courts, and a Greek judge might overrule the government’s guarantee.
‘Also, the Trustees are permitted by law to loan objects only on a temporary, short- term basis. That must rule out any long- term “sharing” arrangement.’
He added: ‘Of course the Elgin Marbles are a matter of public interest, and Sadiq Khan is entitled to express an opinion about them.
‘But it would be a big mistake to think that his position as Mayor of London gives him any particular authority or standing in the matter just because the British Museum is located in London.
‘He has no more authority on this issue than any other man or woman in the street.’
Sir Noel said in his March report for the Policy Exchange think tank that Lord Elgin’s decision to take the Marbles actually saved them from serious damage, dispersal and destruction.
He added: ‘The Elgin Marbles are the Crown Jewels of the British Museum – a national museum with a universal mission.
‘We should feel proud of our ability to show them to the world in London. There is nothing to apologise for here.’
The report also argued there would be a significant risk of non-return if the Marbles were lent to Greece and recommended that the Government should reaffirm its support for retaining the Marbles and should not change the current law.
It added that the British Museum should revise its loans policy, explicitly excluding loans to countries which do not recognise the museum’s ownership of the objects concerned.
Source: Daily Mail