To Save Country Houses Some time ago, Lord Lothian made
the proposal that owners of country houses of historic interest or archi- tectural merit should be accorded a remission of death duties on their properties on condition that they remained inhabited and periodically open to the public. It was based on the reasonable contention that an old and beautiful mansion is both a family seat and at the same time a national and public asset. Attention has been drawn in these columns and elsewhere, to the existence in France of an association of owners of famous châteaux whose members levy on themselves and the visiting public subscriptions to a maintenance fund to keep the properties in a worthy condition. The president of the French association, the Due de Noailles, is coming to this country to speak at a National Trust reception* on January 28th. This is essentially a case where the example of France is worth following, with any necessary modifications.
* Tickets may be obtained from the National Trust, 7 11uckilighata Palace Gardens, S.W. 1.
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