U.K.: REGALIA CAPTURED BY BRITISH IN 1885 RETURNED TO BURMESE GOVERNMENT.

Record ID: 435298

  • Title: U.K.: REGALIA CAPTURED BY BRITISH IN 1885 RETURNED TO BURMESE GOVERNMENT.
  • Date: 11th November 1964
  • Summary: 1. GV FOREIGN OFFICE 0.03 2. CU PLAQUE: "FOREIGN OFFICE" 0.05 3. GV GENERAL NE WIN ENTERS WITH MR. GORDON WALKER 0.10 4. SV & CU GEN. NE WIN AND MR. GORDON WALKER (2 SHOTS) 0.16 5. CU CEREMONIAL DAGGER 0.20 6. GV GROUP O.23 7. CU MOUNTBATTEN 0.26 8. GV MR. GORDON WALKER PRESENTS DAGGER TO GEN. NE WIN 0.37 9. CU DITTO 0.45 10. SV TILT UP EXTERIOR VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM 0.49 11. SV GENERAL NE WIN LOOKS AT CEREMONIAL SWORDS 0.54 12. CU PAN SWORD 1.01 13. GV & CU BURMESE REGALIA (2 SHOTS) 1.12 14. CU GEN. NE WIN 1.15 15. SV BURMESE GIRL (BBC REPORTER) LOOKING AT GOOSE 1.18 16. CU GOOSE 1.21 17. GV TILT DOWN VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM 1.24 Initials DE/V/MGT/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th November 1964 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, U.K.
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA8KZZA5DGEXIWXUCGZR9C14N34
  • Story Text: AN UNUSUAL CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN BRITAIN'S FOREIGN OFFICE TODAY (WEDNESDAY). AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY. MR. PATRICK GORDON WALKER PRESENTED TO GENERAL NE WIN, THE BURMESE HEAD OF STATE, THE GOLD REGALIA SEIZED BY BRITISH AND INDIAN FORCES WHEN MANDALAY FELL IN 1885. THE CEREMONY WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY EAR MOUNTBATTEN.

    THE FOREIGN OFFICE CEREMONY WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE HANDING OVER OF A SHEATHED DAGGER -- KNOWN AS THE THAN LYET -- WHICH IS CONSIDERED BY THE BURMESE TO BE ONE OF THE FIVE EMBLEMS OF BUDDHIST KINGSHIP.

    LATER, GENERAL NE WIN WENT TO THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM WHERE THE PRICELESS COLLECTION HAS BEEN HOUSED SINCE 1890. ALTOGETHER THERE ARE 67 ARTICLES IN THE COLLECTION -- THE MOST VALUABLE SINGLE COLLECTION OF BURMESE ART IN EXISTENCE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

    THE COLLECTION CONSISTS OF GOLDEN EWERS, SALVERS, URNS AND MANY LARGER DISHES SOMETIMES MOULDED IN THE FORM OF SACRED GEESE.

    THE REGALIA WAS SEIZED FROM THE PALACE OF ALAUNGAYA DURING THE THIRD BURMESE WAR. THE ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS TO SELL THE COLLECTION BY PRIVATE AUCTION IN LONDON, AFTER EXHIBITING IT AT THE COLONIAL AND INDIAN EXHIBITION. BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE HISTORICAL VALUE AS A SINGLE COLLECTION IT WAS SAVED AND PRESERVED IN THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM. TODAY -- NEARLY EIGHTY YEARS AFTER IT WAS SEIZED IT IS RETURNED TO THE BURMESE PEOPLE ...
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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