L4 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.

SPECIAL REPORTS FROM UNITED STATES CONSULS.

Through the courtesy of the State Department, the United States
~onsuls designated to submit the national reports for the countries
to which they are accredited, made very valuable special reports
for the Commission on conditions pertinent to the investigation in
their particular countries. In order that the consuls might contribute
 most effectively to the inquiry, they were advised in detail
as to the material already available to the Commission, and were
asked to supplement this with further data on particular topics
regarding which information was specially needed.
These special reports form a noteworthy contribution to the subject:
 Much of the material was used in the preparation of this
volume, and the reports themselves are printed in Part IT (pp. 1
to 250).

PUBLIC HEARINGS.

Hearings were held by the Commission during the summer of 1915
n Boston, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Indianapolis,
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Spokane, North Yakima, Tacoma, Seattle,
Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. A large
cumber of manufacturers, exporters, and others actually interested
in export business appeared and discussed foreign trade conditions.
Through these conferences with men of practical knowledge and experience
 much pertinent information and many valuable suggestions
were obtained. Material from the hearings is given under appropriate
 topical headings in Part IT (pp. 251 to 327).

RESEARCH.

Systematic study was instituted covering all the recent published
material of importance regarding foreign cartels, syndicates, combinations,
 and certain other factors affecting American exporters in
over-seas markets. Such work was necessary, particularly in the
early stages of the investigation, in order to take full advantage of
all available authoritative information, to give intelligent direction
to the inquiry, and to reduce further work to the minimum. Tt
involved the careful study of a great mass of material in German,
French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian, consisting chiefly of laws;
court reports; parliamentary papers; reports by governmental
departments, bureaus, commissions, and consular services; bulletins,
 reports, and announcements by chambers of commerce and
by associations, syndicates, and organizations of producers and distributors;
 books, treatises, and monographs by private authorities.
Tt also required the examination of similar material published in