New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-05
GERMANY And THE STANDARD OIL.
A LETTER FROM THE CoMrANY's BREMEN AGENT
TO MINISTER PHELPS.

TO MINISTER PHELPS.
The petroleum trade shows considerable interest IN
the position of the standard Oil Company in Ger
many, as the result OF the German Governments in
vestigaton may have all important bearing on Amer
lean exports The action of the STANDARD is also
watched by the producers. in Of the defeat OF
Russian competition, the export demand, which has
not more than hept pace with that Of last year, Will
DrolabIy increase tile inquiry for crude and Offset the
effect of the great Mcdonald pool, which is now de
pressing values. Copies have just been secured Of
the letter sent to Phelps at Berlin by w. IL.
Libby foreign representative of the Standard Oil Com
pany mt Bremen. The letter follows:
I have the honor, in accordance with your sug.
gestiOn 70 address you briefly concerning the policy Of
tie standard oil Company IN Europe winch mas been
and | understand, has been made the subject Of
inquiry on the part OF the German Government. 10
tbe extent that YOU utilize these lines for neutral
iZiug existing prejudces, as corrective OF public
inlscOncepton, it Will be very highly appreciated by
The industry ! representing.
There Is neither ny stery nor monopoly III the policy
of the standard Oil Company In Europe Iheir p0ncy
* simply that Of competitive commerce, ana Eis been
dictated and stimulated by the desire 10 sustain the
consumption of American petroleum IN Europe IN ne
face Of active and growing competition from otIlof
countries, and especially from Russia.
We seek to discourage all speculation ID our piouncs
distribution and through the avenue OF local dis
tbuor to bring american petroleum within 10 6e sG
of the scantest purse: we tis1 IcfeDI - uer
ative commerce. -
While tie motive OF bhlS pOnCy II 10 pIOtVo' ""I
extend our own interest its progress ana fruOl must
fayOably affect both the producer IN America AnG o
consumer in Europe, the former, because sustaining
the utilization OF his product against foreign com
petition and the latter because II the economies re
shifting from our system Of distribution. There Is
clearly defined mutually In this policy, and we nave
none OF the sinister and Interior designs winch nave
agtated the Imagination OF our critics
For the fuItheranCe Of our programme ana as PAT
tcipatOrs in the large European investment Whlch
this programme involves, we have sOught ana Deel
fortunate enough to the cooperation OF c0tere
OF well-Enown merchants, who have been long ana
prominently Identified with the petroleum commerce
OF the Continent. 49,
The Standard oil Company has no understanding or
agreement Of any nature with the dcSsr''
RothschiId or the Nobels, any other Russian In
terest and never has had, could any understand
inc trinspire in the future, on any such basis as
recently suggested By press articles, VIZ: cOmbMi-
tion 10 exact AN cxtOrtiOnate artificial price from
The consumer. This would be absolutely In CONFLICT
With the history and policy Of the standard OIL Com
pany at home abroad ~, o f.,
In a word the adm OF the Standard OIL Company III
Europe Is % cheaper It's products and extend It's bus-
ne~s Although its enterprises abroad necessltate
large Outlays, aud not unattended with sacrnoes
and penalties trust and believe these may prove %
he in the pathway OF legitimate progressive 'allu
nroGtsslle commerce, and we believe that when our
bolicy as now briefly outlined, shall become more
fnIy developed and more widely understood, IL WI
raceive the cOmmendation not the censure OF an I'M
najHai press and justify the encouragement ana nut
The menace, OF legislation.