SPEQIAL REPORTS FOR FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. 188

Standard Oil Co.—The Standard Oil Co. of New York is the cororate
 name of the principal foreign organization operating here.
A for illuminating purposes being a monopoly of the Government,
 its activities in that grade of oil are limited, though it is in
competition of greater or less severity with the Roumanian and
Russian. companies.
The company has its head office at Athens-Piraeus, with branches
or direct representation at all principal points.” At Piraeus a large
plant for the storage of bulk oil and the manufacture of cases and
tins is now approaching completion. In addition to illuminating
oil sold to the Government, an active trade in other grades is carried
 on through sales agents who cover the entire field thoroughly.
In general its policy is to demand cash against delivery of goods.
Because of the general situation at this time it is without competition,
and there is a tendency to seize on this and to force up prices at
gvery possible point. A far as can be learned there has been no
dumping in this market, but competition in normal times is met by
offering a superior product with prompt delivery. The Standard
Oil Co. has no official relations with any department of the Government,
 so far as can be learned, nor is it thought to be in close or
friendly relations with any banking or other group.
As stated above, there is at the present time, practically speaking,
no competition encountered by this company, although the Texas
Oil Co. has been trying to enter the field. The former, however, is
so strongly entrenched that it would be a difficult matter for any
rival to dislodge it.
No international cartels or buying combinations.—There are no
international cartels, syndicates, or combinations directly engaged
in business in Greece so far as can be ascertained, nor are there any
combinations of buyers of American goods in the Hellenic Kingdom
 which have a concrete organization.
American goods at a disadvantage.—Prior to the outbreak of the
war, (Greece was well canvassed by representatives of European
houses and because of this direct representation American goods were
at a disadvantage. Further, the presence of missions of various continental
 power in the country engaged in instructing the army,
navy, police, and forest service rendered the sale of American supplies
 to the Government rather more difficult, the members of the
various missions naturally favoring their own countrymen. Many
of the engineers, chemists, and others found here were educated im
various continental countries, and this has the natural result of predisposing
 them in favor of the goods and methods of such lands.
Little governmental aid for Grecian products—The ministry of
national economy, established in 1910, endeavors to aid Grecian foreign
 commerce. Owing to lack of adequate financial support, however,
 but little has been done thus far. Grecian products have won
their way on their own merits without Government aid or subvention.

TURKEY.
Special report of Consul General Gabriel Bie Ravndal, Constantinople, Turkey,
December 2, 1915.

Industrial and commercial organization being in an embryonic
state in this country, one can not properly speak of manufacturing
and producing efficency in Turkey nor of any special merchandising
 methods.