REPLIES TO CARD AND SCHEDULE INQUIRIES. 367

2, LACK OF NECESSITY FOR SUCH ORGANIZATION.—There were a great
many assertions that combinations of foreign buyers do not exist.
An exporter and importer writes:
Few, if any, combinations of foreign buyers exist. It is against the policy
nf the foreign buyer to have anything to do with his competitors, and it stands
to reason that he exploits the markets of the world for his benefit solely, and is
not anxious to give advantages, his foresight and energy may accomplish, to aid
his competitors.

A retired banker with foreign financial interests insists that “ as a
rule buyers do not combine.” ’ .
An importer and manufacturer of 20 years’ experience declares:
Combinations of foreign buyers do not exist in any line of business of which
have knowledge.
In the same vein an exporter states:

The writer’s business brings him in contact with the South American marzets
 and he knows of no combinations of buyers there.
3. Direct EVIL EFFECTS.—A lawyer who has been interested in foreign
 trade for 40 years writes:

Under free competition, I do not see how they could deal any more successfully
 with a foreign buyer, excepting that they could sell him the goods
cheaper than a small concern or individual, because they could produce cheaper;
the result would be that the individual or a small concern would be driven out
of business; this, of course, is the natural result of ail trade combinations.

OPINIONS AS TO WHETHER COMBINATIONS SOLELY FOR EXPORT
BUSINESS ARE FOR OR AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
(Manufacturers’ schedule, question 4; other schedules, question 1.)
A. GENERAL SUMMARY.
Question No. 4 of the schedules sent to manufacturers and producers
 was as follows:

Irrespective of your answer to question 1, please give the reasons why you
think combinations or cooperative organizations, solely for export business,
among American manufacturers or producers, by common selling agencies or
by other means, are or are not in the public interest.
The same inquiry appeared as question No. 1 of the schedules on
foreign trade conditions sent to export commission houses, domestic
merchants, publicists, lawyers, etc., reading as follows:

Irrespective of your opinion as to whether the law does or does not prohibit
combinations or cooperative organizations, solely for export business, among
American manufacturers or producers by common selling agencies or by other
means, please give the reasons why you think such organizations are or are not
in the public interest.

As shown in table, page 845, 1,740 direct replies were received, comprising,
 with very few exceptions, all those received up to January 15,
1916. The outstanding feature of these replies was the practical
unanimity with which the writers expressed themselves that combinations
 among American manufacturers or producers are in the
public interest. A total of 1,566, or 90 per cent of all, thus replied.
This result was paralleled by the returns from the inquiry cards sent
out November 4, 1915, containing, among others, the same question.
About 7,700 replied to it in the affirmative, which was 83 per cent
of all the post-card answers to the question.