412 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.

largest manufacturers in this country are producing both the metal and the
glass, and unless the smaller manufacturers are allowed to work in combination
 tu this end, we can only enter the foreign market to a small extent.
We understand that the English, who have imported practically all of their
optical goods, are organizing one or two large companies to produce the goods
which have heretofore been imported, and also to take over such portions of
the foreign trade as they can obtain, In fact we received a report of a meeting
 which was held at the organization of one of these companies and at which
the Lord Mayor of London spoke, and offered the active cooperation and support
 of the city government toward making the organization a success. We
might mention that this is considerably different from the support and encouragement
 which the manufacturer in this country has recently been receiving
 from this Government, (From a manufacturer of metal optical goods.)

PAPER.

We do not know positively, but understand that foreign Governments—German,
 French, and Austrian—have in the past encouraged syndicates or cooperative
 organizations of exporters to increase their foreign business by rebates
on freight on Government-controlled railroads, encouraged: the Government
banks, such as the Bank of France, Bank of England, Deutsche Bank, etc., to
discount long-term Rotes or acceptances; and encouraged said banks to operate
branches and to become interested in their branch banks in foreign countries;
all of which help along the industry of their own country.
We know that Germany and Sweden, both large exporters of paper, have
syndicates of manufacturers who control the selling prices of each grade of
paper; that they had lower prices for export than for domestic use, and the
rustoms authorities at the port of New York caused trouble to every importer of
paper by insisting that duty be paid at the prevailing market price in the producer’s
 country, which was anywhere from 5 to 20 per cent higher. Furthermore,
 we know, that the latter part of 1914, a Canadian mill begged us to take
their surplus production of tissue wrapping paper at a price 40 per cent below
the prevailing market price in Canada, due to dull conditions in Canada on
account of the war. The New York customs authorities would not permit it.
We can furnish you with many other instances. (From a manufacturer of
paper products.)
We buy from foreign manufacturers who are members of trade associations
and who, we know, agree among themselves (not published) as to what prices
ghall be maintained for export and domestic consumption. (From a paper
merchant.)
The Verband Deutscher Druckpapier-Fabriken, of Berlin, Germany, composed
 of a selling organization representing, we understand, about 85 per cent
of the news-paper manufacturers in Germany, supplied, prior to August, 1914,
their home market at a price of about $2.25 per hundred pounds, while their
foreign trade, which was large, was done at an average of approximately
$1.85 per hundred pounds f. o. b. port of shipment. (From a dealer in paper
who exports over half his product.)
From direct knowledge, none, but we have understood that a selling organization
 in Germany (the Verband Deutscher Druckpapier-Fabriken, of Berlin),
which represents about 85 per cent of the news mills in Germany, sells in the
home market at a price approximately 40 cents higher than it quotes and sells
in the foreign market. (From a manufacturer of wrapping papers.)
Porter (ENGLAND). ]

The only information that we have is that, three years ago in England, I
discovered that in the manufacturing of pottery there were pools and combinations
 and restricted output, and that they fixed a price both for domestic
and export business. (From a manufacturer of porcelain ware.)
Sk RmBBONS (GERMANY).

We know, for Instance, that in our line of goods there is a combination of
manufacturers In Germany on domestic business only, leaving the foreign
business to open competition, which enables these manufacturers to sell cheaper
Wh foreign countries than for home consumption. (From a manufacturer of
ribbons.