6

COMMERCIAL  INTELLIGENCE  COMMITTEE:

on  the  4th  January  1900.  That  the  contents  of  the  “  Journal  ”  are  widely
appreciated  is  shown  by  the  many  quotations  from  it  which  appear  in
various  publications  at  home  and  abroad,  and  by  the  inquiries  which  are
constantly  being  received  in  the  Branch  respecting  it.  The  section  in  the
•“  Journal  ”  to  which  particular  attention  appears  to  be  paid  by  the  home
press  is  that  devoted  to  “  Openings  for  British  Trade,”  in  which  information
as  to  possible  openings  for  trade  abroad,  and  especially  information  relating
to  contracts  open  to  tender,  is  brought  under  the  notice  of  the  commercial
community.  Prominence  is  of  course  given  in  the  “  Journal”  to  the  publication ­
  of  new  customs  tariffs  both  of  Foreign  countries  and  of  British
possessions,  and  of  notices  relating  to  changes  in  customs  tariff's.  New  tariffs
have  occasionally  been  published  as  separate  supplements  to  the  “  Journal.”
Since  the  incorporation  of  the  “  Imperial  Institute  Journal,”  with  the
“Board  of  Trade  Journal,”  which  took  place  at  the  beginning  of  1903,  a
special  quarterly  supplement  has  been  issued  under  the  title  of  “  The  Imperial
Institute  Bulletin,”  which  contains  particulars  of  the  work  of  the  Institute
at  South  Kensington,  and  reports  of  investigations  carried  out  by  the
Scientific  and  Technical  Department  of  the  Institute  as  to  the  economic
value  of  various  products  as  well  as  scientific  notes  on  matters  of  commercial
interest.
In  addition  to  the  preparation  and  publication  of  the  “  Journal,”  the
Branch  also  issues  the  “  Monthly  Accounts  Relating  to  the  Trade  and
Commerce  of  certain  Foreign  Countries  and  British  Possessions.”  It  has
also  issued  occasional  Blue  Books,  such  as  “  The  Trade  and  Shipping  of
South-East  Asia”  (with  Map  and  Statistical  Tables),  Cd.  324/1901;  two
volumes  of  extracts  from  Diplomatic  and  Consular  Reports,  viz.,  “  Leather,”
1902,  and  “  Coal,”  1903  ;  a  Memorandum  on  “  Certificates  of  Origin  ”
(Cd.  1446/1903)  ;  and  a  Memorandum  summarising  the  regulations  in  force
in  Foreign  Countries  with  regard  to  Commercial  Travellers’  Licences
(Cd.  1961/1904).
Among  other  branches  of  work  undertaken  by  the  Intelligence  Branch
are  the  compilation  of  the  Annual  Index  to  the  Consular  Reports  ;  the
preparation  of  extracts  from  the  Diplomatic  and  Consular  Reports  relative  to
particular  trades  in  order  to  facilitate  reference  ;  and  the  preparation  of  Lists
of  possible  Purchasers  of  British  goods  in  various  countries,  compiled  from
information  sent  home  by  His  Majesty’s  Consuls.
.  .0•  »  -
The  following  may  be  indicated  as  among  the  principal  subjects  upon
which  inquiries  are  most  frequently  received  by  the  Intelligence  Branch  :—-Trade
  Statistics  (British  and  Foreign).
The  Names  of  Firms  abroad  engaged  in  particular  Trades  and
Industries.
Foreign  and  Colonial  Customs  Tariffs  and  Customs  Regulations.
Openings  for  Trade  in  the  Colonies  and  Foreign  Countries.
Foreign,  Indian,  and  Colonial  Contracts  open  to  Tender.
Sources  of  Supply,  Prices,  &amp;c.,  of  Trade  Products.
Forms  of  Certificates  of  Origin  required  by  Foreign  and  Colonial
Governments.
Regulations  concerning  Commercial  Travellers.
Since  the  establishment  of  the  Branch  it  has  received  a  large  number  of
inquiries,  both  personal  and  in  writing,  on  the  subjects  referred  to  above,  as
well  as  on  many  other  topics.  The  work  of  answering  many  of  these  has
involved  considerable  research  and  a  large  amount  of  labour.
•  J!
During  the  year  1900,  1,244  inquiries  were  addressed  to  the  Branch.
Of  these  945  were  made  by  letter,  while  299  were  made  personally.  In
1901  the  applications  for  information  numbered  1,614;  in  1902  they  rose
to  2,358;  and  in  1903  they  were  3,599.  In  1901,  1,220  applications  were