408 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE,
CoaL (GERMANY AND ENGLAND).

The German coal-and-coke syndicate, which we have encountered in France,
[taly, and South America, is one organized at the instance of the German
Government, and it is backed by that Government, and it has been the means—
prior to the war—of making tremendous strides in developing new foreign
markets for the German coal-and-coke trade. (From an important coal producing
 and exporting company.)
A large number of coal buyers, especially in South America, are controlled
by the English and German coal producers, and the American producer is
compelled to have his representative and facilities on the ground if he expects
to secure any permanent business. A large number of consumers in foreign
countries are owned by foreign capital; consequentiy—on an even basis—they
will buy coal from their own country. Cooperative selling agencies from this
country, properly handled, could, to a certain extent, secure business of this
kind where probably individuals could not. (From a producer and exporter
of ‘coal.)

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY AND APPARATUS (GERMANY, PRINCIPALLY).

Without naming the various cartels and syndicates of national and international
 importance, encouraged and even in some cases, as in Germany, mandatory,
 * * * reference is here made to the added competition which the
electrical export business encounters because of the combination of the large
German concerns, particularly in respect to joint action in the financing of
publie utilities in foreign countries. (From a man connected with a prominent
electrical company.)
FertiLizers (EUrorPE).

The fertilizer industries of Europe are in some cases highly organized under
Government supervision. (From a man holding a very responsible position in
ihe financial world.)

Frou (GEEMANY AND FRANCE).

Have no specific knowledge of that kind. Know in general way of German
rartels and do know how German Government gives flour mills assistance in
export business by drawback of import duties. Such cartels as above mentioned
 apply very little as restriction on flour trade. (From a southwestern
flour milling company.)
The French and German Governments have export bounties, or the equivalent,
 which permits theiy millers to send at some times, if not all times, certain
 qualities of flour tolforeign markets and compete against our flours on a
basis which it is impossible for us to meet. (From a flour milling concern in
the Middle West.)

HARDWARE—PLIFRS AND NIPPERS (GERMANY). ?

In reply would say that we are up against a very powerful combination
owing to the fact that pliers are a line of goods made abroad by a man who
will take a contract to deliver a certain number of tools and then go up into
the country districts of Switzerland, Germany, or France and sublet the different
 contracts to people who work part of the time for wages which will barely
keep body and soul together, the rest of the time they work their little farms
tp make up the difference. The importers in New York take the American
line of pliers no matter at what price they are and send them to Germany
and duplicate them for less money than we can make them here in America.
(From a manufacturer of pliers and nippers.)
TRON AND STEEL (GERMANY, PRINCIPALLY).

In sur line (steel and iron) the only such organized, and therefore the most
formidable competition, is encountered from the German Stahlverband [Stahlwerksverband],
 fortunately, however, successfully combated at their own
game by the United States Steel Products organization. But this is quite an
exceptional case,