288 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.
there any international cartels, syndicates, or combinations operatng
 as such in Egypt.
here are no combinations of buyers of American goods in Egypt.
English banks are prominent in in finance. French capital
has for many years found investment in Egypt, in concessions and
contract undertakings, as well as in commercial and import commission
 lines. The culture of the Levantine native is French, and
French banks are important. German capital before the war was
invested in import i) export business and German cotton firms vied
for supremacy with British houses. All of this can not fail but
militate against unimpeded markets for American products. The
jack of direct steamship connections and direct banking facilities
with New York are other features hampering the expansion of the
sale of American products in Egypt. ;
ALGERIA.

Special report of Consul Dean B. Mason, Algiers, Algeria, November 9, 1915.

Algeria is a French colony having, according to the census of
March, 1911, a total population of 5,563,828 inhabitants, of which
only 752,043 are of European origin. The native population, which
is Siig Mohammedan, is accustomed to a simple standard of living
and is a much smaller consumer of manufactured or foreign goods
than the population of European origin.
No native combinations of manufacturers.—Algeria is an agricultural
 country, and most of the manufactured products consumed
are imported from France. Coal is not mined in Algeria, the cost
of fuel is high, and there is no water power suitable for manufacturing
 purposes. Manufacturing enterprises are on a small scale
and are only of local importance.
According to the testimony of the secretary of the Chamber of
Commerce of Algiers, of the directors of two banks, and of wellinformed
 business men, no cartel, syndicate, or combination of manufacturers
 exists in Algeria. The parties in question are intimately
acquainted with business conditions in Algeria, and their testimony
is confirmed by information received from the Bureau of Commerce
of the Algerian Government. Special agreements may be made
from time to time between independent manufacturers as to the
prices at which goods are sold, but as far as can be ascertained there
are no combinations of Algerian manufacturers which can regulate
prices or control the actions of their members. French manufactured
goods can be imported into Algeria without paying duty, and, owing
to the highly developed character of French industries and somewhat
 unfavorable manufacturing conditions, it is impracticable for
Algerian manufacturers to control the Algerian market.
The French influence—~It is believed that the business, industrial,
and political connection between France and Algeria is so intimate
that, in so far as the activities of combinations of manufacturers are
concerned, Algeria ‘should be considered as French territory. It
is understoood that conditions of sale, business policy, and methods
are either identical or very similar in France and Algeria. Shipping
facilities are cheap and rapid, and, if a comparatively insignificant
allowance be made for extra transportation charges, prices and terms