242 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE,
It is claimed by the representative of the company at Algiers that
there is no petroleum trust in Italy, and that petroleum is sold by
several important firms competing with one another. The Societa
Italo Americana pel Petroleo has the exclusive right of sale of the
products of the Standard Oil Co., by which it is controlled. It hasa
capital of 20,000,000 francs, and is the owner of depots and tank
steamers. The agency at Algiers is managed by a director who
transacts business at Algiers or through agents in other Algerian
cities. Selling prices in Algiers are fixed by consultation between the
Italian company and its directors at Algiers. Selling prices fluctuate
with market prices in the United States, and as cost of delivery is
very similar in Algeria and Italy there is no very material difference
in selling prices in the two countries, when allowance is made for
the different rates of duty. The quality of products sold is good, all
supplies being produced by the Standard Oil Co., and there is no
dumping. Credits of 80 to 60 days were allowed by the Algerian
agency prior to the war, but at present cash payments are exacted.
The agency at Algiers possesses a depot where products are discharged
 from tank steamers. It distributes its products from depots
at Algiers to other Algerian localities, and manufactures barrels for
shipment of its products.
No special relations exist between the Italian company and the
Algerian Government or with important business interests in Algeria.
The agency of the Italian company was established at Algiers some
11 years ago.
There has been no very marked increase in the sale of petroleum,
but the sale of naptha has become much more important owing to
greater demands for automobiles and autobusses. The demand for
faphtha has been greatly decreased by the war. Both petroleum and
naphtha are necessities whose sale is not dependent upon the activities
of combinations of manufacturers, but economic and satisfactory
methods of distribution due to combination and effective business
organization tend to promote business.
Petroleum is also sold at Algiers by the representative of Pluch
&amp; Cie. for the Raffinerie du Mibi, which is owned by three important
firms dealing in and refining crude petroleum. The said French
firms, Desmarais Fréres, Deutsch, and Tenaille &amp; Despeaux, have an
agreement between themselves regulating prices and quantities sold
by each firm. It is not understood that the said combination of
French manufacturers transacting business in Algeria through the
organization known as Pluch &amp; Cie. are afforded any special facilities
by the Algerian Government. The petroleum ol naphtha sold in
Algeria by Pluch &amp; Cie. are imported from France, and the business
methods and prices, etc., of Pluch &amp; Cie. are similar to those of the
[talian company. It only does about half as much business.

KONGO.

Special report of Vice Consul in Charge Harry A. McBride, Boma, Kongo,
November 13, 1915.

Cartels, syndicates, and similar combinations formed for the purpose
 of internal and external trade or industry do not exist in Kongo.
he only formations of this sort which may operate in such a manner