WAS THERE A WEAK  FACTOR IN ORGANIZATION?	223
\vas joined by manufacturers of semi-finished products, ingots and
blooms. In 1911 all the Bolcrian \vork« making these form* of steel
were included, the Comptoir ha\ing absolute control of domestic
and foreign sales.
L'Union Professionelle des Merchands dr Poutrelles de Belgique
was also formed, which purchased only from the Comptoir. Associa-
tions for tyres, axles, sheets and slabs existed for various periods.
The Belgian industry was not as compactly organized as the
cartels of Germany owing to the difficulty of getting the smaller
works to act in unison, but the comptoirs exerted a vigorous influence
on foreign sales. A list of the principal works affiliated to comptoin,
is given in the Appendix.
The products, the sales of which were controlled by the Comptoii
were   ingots, billets, blooms, sheets, bars, channels and joists, but
not angles, plates or bars.
In 1927 the following associations or cartels existed in the iron
and steel trade.
product	scope
Bolts and Nuts	Belgium
Machinery	Belgium
Wire	Belgium and Germany
France and Luxembourg
Pig Iron	France and Belgium
Luxembourg
Tubes	International
The Bank—La Soci&£ G&i6rale de Belgique—played a pre-
ponderating role in the development of the coal-mining and iron
and steel industries. It controlled Athus-Angleur et Moselle Chate-
lincau and had holdings in Cockerill, Ougree Marihaye and Burbach-
Eich-Dudelange.
Le Comptoir des Acieries Beiges represented Belgium with regard
to the quota of crude steel manufactured by that country as an
adherent to PEntente Internationale de PAcier.
The Syndicat G&i6rale des Fondeurs de Belgique comprised 90
Belgian foundries. Its aims were:
 (1)	Economic studies relating to the industry;
 (2)	Improvements in the technique of production;
 (3)	Development of standardization and selling methods;
 (4)	Setting up of general research bodies
La Soci&£ Nationale des Chemins de fer Beiges had a favourable
tariff of freights on metallurgical products for export.