Britain’s Attorney General Michael Ellis has suggested Britain could reclaim the Ionian Islands from Greece if Athens continues pushing for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.
Speaking on GB News, Ellis raised the prospect of challenging the 1864 Treaty of London, under which Queen Victoria gifted the Ionian Islands to Greece.
“If the Greeks aren’t going to respect the arrangements that have been made for the Elgin Marbles, maybe we should ask them not to accept the 1864 treaty either,” Ellis blasted as he discussed the potential return.
The Attorney General is the chief legal adviser to the British Crown. He is also the government’s principal legal adviser and among his duties is dealing with questions of public law, international law, and human rights.
“Ionian Islands were British sovereign islands”
“There was an agreement in 1864. We, the British, had the Ionian Islands. They were British sovereign islands.
“Just to the west of Greece. They were marvelous islands. They were British territory from 1815 through until 1864.
“Queen Victoria gifted them to the King of Greece in 1864 by a treaty called the Treaty of London of 1864. Now we’re going to respect that treaty, aren’t we?
“If the Greeks aren’t going to respect the arrangements that have been made for the Elgin Marbles, maybe we should ask them not to accept the 1864 treaty either. And we’ll have the islands back.”
Ionian Island demand follow talks on Parthenon Marbles
His provocative comments come as talks between the British Museum and Greece over the ancient sculptures appear to be progressing.
The remarks follow Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in London on Tuesday, where the contentious issue of the marbles was reportedly discussed.
Downing Street has indicated that Starmer would not prevent a deal to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece.
No 10 said the Parthenon sculptures’ future is “entirely” in the hands of the British Museum, amid reports of progressing negotiations with the Greek government.
Greek officials were sounding bullish after the meeting between Mitsotakis and Starmer. “We welcome the fact that the British government will not stand in the way if there is an agreement with the British Museum,” a senior Greek government official said.
Neither the official readout of the meeting from Downing Street nor the Greek side mentioned the ancient ornaments, stressing that the talks had focused on closer ties between the two countries.
Some 53 percent of Britons favor the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, a poll from market research company YouGov showed this week.
Related: United States of the Ionian Islands: The History of British Rule in Greece
