Museums’ role as guardians of foreign treasures
sir – David Olusoga’s contention that non-british and allegedly stolen artefacts in our museums and galleries should be returned to their countries of origin (report, May 28) may be politically correct, but its implications have not been thought through.
A good many significant items originated in countries – for instance Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan – that have subsequently become areas of devastating conflict, with the destruction of the remains of past civilisations a priority for extremists such as Isil. Many of these artefacts would no longer exist if they had not been in the protective custody of places such as the British Museum; who is to say that if they were to be returned they too would not end up being destroyed, as more and more of the world succumbs to bigoted extremism?
And why should Mr Olusoga’s strictures apply only to Britain? After all, a significant proportion of the Louvre’s holdings are there as a result of the indefatigable activities of that cultural kleptomaniac Napoleon. No; this is a can of worms, and best left untouched.
Roger White
Sherborne, Dorset