The Cruise of the Branwen

INTRODUCTORY tually discovered in what at first sight had appeared to add yet another difficulty to the Council's task, the project of a Franco-British Exhibition in the same summer as that appointed for the Olympic Games. The connection between the two schemes needs explanation, for it has been very generally misunderstood; and when to this misunderstand– ing is ·further added the confusion about " Olympia," an excellent place of permanent entertainment in London built without any reference whatever to the Olympic Games of 1908, there is little wonder that the public have not quite grasped the situation. It must be realised, to begin with, that the Government, after the habit of English Govern– ments, has given no financial recognition, either to the good work done for English trade by the Franco-British Exhibition, or to the civilising and ameliorating conditions resulting from such inter– national gatherings as the Olympic Games of London. In both examples of neglect, of course, we stand alone among the Governments of Europe; and the success of both undertakings is deliberately left to private enterprise and gener– osity. I am sure, therefore, that the public will, for just this reason, appreciate even more highly than they might otherwise have done the signifi– cant facts that all the profits of the Franco– British Exhibition go to charity, and any profits there may remain after the unpaid organisers of the Olympic Games have seen the fruition of their lahours will be devoted to the expenses in– curred by the permanent British Olympic Council 13