NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE most interesting event of the week, to our thinking, has been the meeting of British and German industrial leaders at Colonel Wilfrid Ashley's house in Hampshire, the old home of Lord Palmerston. If there had not been an attempt to keep the meeting comparatively secret there would have been less misunderstanding. We hope, however, that the presence of a Protectionist like Sir Robert Horne at the discussions, will not be taken to mean that the object was simply Protection. For Our part we believe that if the ideas which are said to have been examined at Broadlands are guided along the right lines they may be extremely helpful. We have to thank the Daily News and The Westminster Gazette for having provided us with most of the information Which is available. The principal object at Broadlands, it is understood, was to prepare the way for the formation of large industrial combinations or agreements which would be international in their scope and character. The recently created Steel Trust between Germany, France, Belgium and Luxemburg was no doubt taken as a model, or at any rate as a subject of debate. The very word " Trust " is a bad omen and a kind of warning to many people. Their thoughts go back to the old United States Trusts and they say they want nothing of the same kind in Europe and that in the interests of the consumer they will offer all the resistance they can. Still, we must distinguish, as Mr. Gladstone used to say. For better or worse we have already got masters' associations whose field of operations is not confined to this country.
