ELGIN MARBLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1941, Page 6

ELGIN MARBLES

SOME TALK OF RESTITUTION TO GREECE.

Since 1941 brings the centenary of the death of the Lord Elgin of the marbles, there might be a special appropriateness in considering just now the feeling, to which new expression is being given, in favour of returning the marbles' to Athens. Bui such a step would not be approved universally. Grant Dull records a conversation in 1890 with Sir Edgar Boehm on “the fantastic idea recently put forward that we should restore the Elgin Marbles to Greece. Ho told me that a young M.P. had come to him some years" ago and asked what his feelings would be if a motion to that effect were carried. ’What would be my feelings?' was the reply. T would curse you with my dying breath.' "

However, it may be assumed that no one would go quite to that length today. though it might be wise to wait till the end of the war for any actual restitution, in which, by the way, France might have to join. Ono of the pieces in the British’ Museum is only a copy. The original was captured by Nelson from a French ship in the Mediterranean. Nelson asked Elgin what he should do with his prize. “Send it to my old friend Choisoul Goufl’ier: it is his." was the reply, and. since courtesy had not yet been eliminated from war, that was done.