I really do not want to enter this discussion on whether 1970 or 1983 should be the cut-off date for applying rigorous standards in the acquisition of antiquities. Any such date would exclude the majority of African objects which were illegally acquired in the past. Why are museums and antiquities dealers always looking for lower standards when it comes to examining their acquisition practices? The only really correct standard would be whether these objects were acquired in accordance with the law of the place of initial acquisition,i.e. the laws of the source country. What is required is solid evidence on the mode of acquisition. If a crime or an illegal act was involved in the initial acquisition,then subsequent acquisitions should be regarded as tainted by illegality ab initio unless bona fides can be established.This would lead to considering compensation for the innocent acqusition of stolen property. The flow of time should not be used to cover blatant illegalities. Kwame Opoku