COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE. 39
After explaining that the low rate before the outbreak of the
European conflict was partly caused by a rate war, he went on to say
that after the European war the rates would doubtless be cheaper
than from America.
F. R. Still, secretary, American Blower Co., described the effect on
his foreign business of lower freight rates to Japan enjoyed by Irish
manufacturers, as follows:

We have certain patent rights and trade-mark rights on a certain
ine of apparatus that we make which is used in the navy in Japan.
The concern from whom we acquire the patent rights is in Belfast,
Ireland, and while our prices are a little lower than theirs, yet the
difference they get in freight, and the arrangements for credit established
 in London, enables them to beat us out every time; and while
they pay us a certain commission. that does not furnish us business
in our shop.

A manufacturer of building materials who exports one-third of
his output, states that freights from Montreal to South Africa given
Lis Canadian competitors are materially lower than any which he
can obtain from New York to South Africa, and says further that
these rates, combined with the 3 per cent. preferential tariff conressions
 granted the Canadian product by the South African Union,
have seriously injured his business in that market.
A northwestern miller, after citing specific cases in which American
 flour mills were unable to obtain rates to European ports as
low as those given Canadian millers by English lines sailing from
Canadian ports, and In consequence lost export orders that were
taken by Canadian millers, said:
We realize more every day that the American manufacturer or
shipper is entirely at the mercy and in the hands of foreign-owned
steamship lines.
Assertion that foreign shippers are given information of
the transactions of Americans.—It is often stated that foreign
exporters have sometimes obtained information through foreign
steamship agents of the transactions of American exporters, ascertaining
 the names of customers, the kind of goods furnished, ete.,
and that this information has assisted them in efforts, sometimes
successful, to obtain such trade.
After discussing other disadvantages arising from the use of forsign
 ships a retired ship broker of Philadelphia, said:
Most of all, however, the American manufacturer, under present
conditions, by utilizing foreign ships to carry his goods furnishes
anknowingly into the hands of his competitors in the country where
the ship belongs, the weapon with which to kill his trade.
Various instances of this kind have been reported to the Commission.
 A San Francisco exporter and importer, after stating that the