PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS ADMINISTRATION. 679 



FOREIGN INVESTIGATIONS. 



Studies in the foreign fields have related chiefly to concentration 

 and integration of packing and other related enterprises with which 

 American packers compete, both by reason of their manufacture 

 of products and their exportation from the United States, and also 

 through the operation of packing and distributing plants in South 

 America, Europe, and other regions. 



The principal points covered in the above-mentioned studies are 

 summarized as follows : 



(1) The meat requirements of Great Britain. 



(2) Relation of British packing enterprises to the industry in 

 America. 



(3) Methods followed in Great Britain in the distribution of 

 meats. 



(4) The general economic situation. 



In the intelligent administration of the packers and stockyards act 

 the foreign as well as the domestic situation is being considered, with 

 a view to giving every proper encouragement and help to the Amer- 

 ican livestock industry. It should be remembered that the United 

 States may again be called upon to supply a large part of Europe's 

 beef needs. While 1922 exports were almost negligible, in 1917 and 

 1918 combined we exported nearly 1,200,000,000 pounds of beef and 

 its products. 



BACON TRADE PROMOTION. 



During and immediately after the war, American bacon acquired 

 an unwarranted reputation in Europe. This was due to the fact that 

 the foreign contract specifications called for exclusively heavy cures 

 to insure preservation, and was also due to the fact that cargoes, after 

 arrival in Europe, were held for long periods pending disposal. Con- 

 sumers naturally objected to this situation and bought other types 

 of bacon when they could be secured. To help remove any remaining 

 prejudice against American bacon, a film entitled " Behind the 

 Breakfast Plate " has been prepared for distribution in Great Britain 

 and elsewhere in Europe. It is available in French, German, Italian, 

 Dutch, and Norwegian forms. Distribution is getting under way in 

 England and Germany and to a less extent in France and Austria. 

 In Germany an agreement has been made with one of the largest 

 moving-picture distributing organizations, as a result of which show- 

 ings are promised to 3,500 cinemas. 



LAW. 



The work of this division is tied up and integrated with that of 

 all the other divisions of the administration. Therefore, it is em- 

 braced to a considerable degree in all the actiyities of the organiza- 

 tion. In this connection special attention is directed to the " docket 

 report," in which the work of this division is reflected in a very large 

 measure. This consists in the preparation or review of complaints, 

 the testimony and findings of facts in formal hearings, orders, and 

 other documents of a formal character. 



This division participates in informal discussion and conferences 

 wherein legal questions are involved, and it gives opinions in connec- 



7S007— AGE 1923 44 



