Tony Blair discussed using Elgin Marbles as bargaining chip for Greek support for London 2012 bid
Tony Blair was advised to use the Elgin Marbles as a “bargaining chip” to persuade Greece to support London’s 2012 Olympic bid, newly-released documents reveal.
The former Labour prime minister – now Sir Tony – was keen on the idea, and even suggested that Lord Owen, the former foreign secretary, should be given the job of negotiating the sculptures’ return.
The proposal fell through, and the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, remain at the British Museum, despite ongoing efforts by the current Greek prime minister to repatriate them.
The sculptures, which were removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin more than 200 years ago, have been a cultural and diplomatic hot potato ever since, with Britain arguing they were lawfully purchased and Greece maintaining that they were illegally removed.
Cabinet Office papers released by the National Archives show that Greece had pleaded with Britain to return the marbles ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympics in a gesture “befitting the Olympic spirit”.
Britain regarded such an arrangement in a far more transactional way, the papers show.
In April 2003 Sarah Hunter, Mr Blair’s policy adviser on culture, media and sport, wrote to him to say there were good reasons for the government to abandon its stance that the marbles were entirely a matter for the British Museum, and instead encourage the museum “to find an accommodation over the next 12 months”.
She wrote: “The marbles could be a powerful bargaining chip in IOC [International Olympic Committee] vote building for a 2012 Olympic bid. The publicity attached to this move could secure the Greek nomination and help garner a wide range of other IOC votes, although we would have to guard against other nations asking for reciprocal acts.”
She said that the Greeks had finessed their request by suggesting a loan rather than restitution of ownership, which “contrasts with the BM’s blinkered intransigence to consider any compromises”.
She said that Tessa Jowell, the then culture secretary, “has sympathy with the Greek’s arguments” but was reluctant to get involved.
However Lord Owen had written to the Cabinet Office suggesting a compromise deal in which a treaty governing the marbles’ future could be overseen by the European Court of Justice.
Asked whether he wanted to open up a channel with the British Museum to debate possible next steps, Mr Blair hand wrote a reply at the bottom of the letter saying: “Yes. Why not put David Owen in charge of negotiating this? It would give it profile, he has clout and could probably help with the BM, whilst distancing it a little from govt.”
Lord Owen said on Thursday: “There was no contact with me from the Blair government about negotiating with the Greek government about a loan over the marbles. Early on in the Blair government’s life I was approached by a Treasury minister to become chairman of the British Museum but when it became clear I would be taking over as part of the sacking of the incumbent I refused, since the person was a friend.”
