Free Trade in Art The President of the Royal Academy
has asked the Import Duties Advisory Committee to recommend that works of art should be placed on the free list. A few years ago it would have seemed incredible that such a request would need to be made. And even now, when our fiscal policy has been sharply reversed, it is surely inconceivable that the request will not at once be granted. The American tariff on modern works of art has long been regarded by most Englishmen as an extreme instance of Protectionist obscurantism. We cannot believe that our National Government is now going out merely to follow, but to improve upon the American example. Sir William Llewellyn drew attention in his letter to the importance of London as a centre for the trade in works of art of all ages and countries. But he pleaded for free trade in art mainly on broad cultural lines, and inciden- tally reminded the Committee that many English artists do their work abroad. The case against a tariff on pictures, sculpture and the like is indeed overwhelming. Our artists neither need nor desire Protection.
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