In connexion with the coal dispute it is interesting to
learn that a conference of representatives of the Euorpean' coal industry will soon- be held to discuss the possibility, of-ending the cut-throat competition in the coal markets.' This would be a large problemto tackle. As the Berlin correspondent of the Times says, there are two distinct' objectives. First, an understanding covering all Europe,. though this, of course, would leave out the United States; - which exports much coal ; and secondly the creation of, an international coal syndicate on the model of that existing for the trade of Germany. It is not even certain that the British coal industry would desire such a plan, for the extent to which German competition injures the British coal trade has never been determined. All that can be said safely is that the German organization is most efficient in its regulation of the German coal trade. The- conditions in Germany, however, are much less compli- cated than our own. It would be impossible for a British Syndicate to be quite like the German Syndicate. It seems that the proposal for an international organization came from the German miners' leader, the late Otto Hue. We must also mention Sir Alfred Mond's inter- esting proposal to create a British selling agency. He has discussed the matter with some delegates from the German mines. A natural objection is that such an agency would eliminate the coal merchants, but this has not happened in Germany. Sir Alfred thinks that the first step towards any international arrangement ought to be a national selling agency in Great Britain like that in Germany. * *
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