US members of Congress urge Britain to return Elgin Marbles to Greece next year

Actors dressed up as Lord Elgin and one of the Parthenon sculptures protest outside the British Museum in London last month

Credit: PA

A group of US members of Congress have written to Boris Johnson urging Britain to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece by next year.

Eighteen members of the House of Representatives signed the letter which asked the UK to negotiate "in earnest" over the disputed sculptures.

The Democrat and Republican politicians included the chairs of the House’s powerful oversight and rules committees, and the foreign affairs subcommittee on issues related to Europe.

"The Marbles have been the source of controversy among western allies for many decades. Greece has long wanted these Parthenon Marbles back," the letter said.

"Today we write to you as members of the congressional caucus on Hellenic Issues to urge your government to negotiate with the Greek government in earnest on the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece."

It is understood the US politicians would like to see them returned to mark the 200th anniversary of the formation of modern Greece in 2021.

Statues forming part of the Elgin Marbles

Credit: Fine Art

They also believe Mr Johnson, with his academic knowledge of ancient Greece, would appreciate more than any other recent British prime minister, the importance of doing so.

In the letter they added: "We remain appreciative of your efforts and good will in support of the historic special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and look forward to strengthening that relationship through the accomplishment of matters such as this."

The Marbles date from the fifth century BC, and were created under the supervision of Greek sculptor Phidias. They are considered among the best in the world.

Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, acquired them from the Parthenon in Athens between 1801 and 1805, when he was British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, which Athens was a part of.

He removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the fallen ruins, which he had shipped back to Britain.

In 1816 they were bought by Parliament and presented to the British Museum, where they remain.

The British Museum maintains that Lord Elgin acted with the permission of the Ottoman authorities.

Greece has long argued that the objects were illegally taken during Turkish occupation and should be returned.

Schoolchildren observing sections of the Elgin Marbles at The British Museum

Credit: Getty

A source close to the US politicians said: "These members of Congress are saying thank you to Britain for looking after them. They know that Boris Johnson understands Greek history better than anyone, and both Republicans and Democrats are calling on the prime minister to do the right thing.

"By returning the Elgin Marbles, the United States sees an opportunity for Boris Johnson to go down in history as a statesman who respected both Britain’s past and projected a new confident post Brexit Britain to the world .”

Among the long-time British campaigners for the marbles to be returned is the legal expert Geoffrey Robertson QC.

He told The Telegraph it would also require Parliament to change the British Museum Act of 1963, which forbids curators from returning any property.

"These marbles were wrongfully taken by Lord Elgin, and it would be fitting to talk about their return next year," he said. "But first, Parliament must repeal the law that prohibits the British Museum from parting with any of its property. Only then can it return anything, including the loot that came from colonial plunder."

The letter came days after senior Democrats, including Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, said there would be no US-UK trade deal if Brexit undermined the Good Friday Agreement.

In the US, negotiation of international trade deals is delegated by Congress to the president, but they have to then be passed by the House And Senate.

The US politicians did not mention the trade deal in their letter.

But Tim Loughton, a Conservative MP and former minister, said: "Not content with trying to use the future of Northern Ireland as a bargaining chip for US-UK trade negotiations, now they’re trying to empty the British Museum in an attempt to blackmail the UK Government."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Parthenon Sculptures are the legal property of the British Museum. Decisions relating to their care are taken by the Trustees of the British Museum.

"Their future will not form part of any trade negotiations."