The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-22
And
THE RUSSIAN WAR.
SHANGHAI MERCHANT DEFINES
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.
Declares That Russia Is Holding Her
Ground in Manchuria Only Until She
Can Dispose of Her Vast Oil Fields
There to the American Trust His
Explanation.

There will never be peace between
Japan and Russia until the Standard Oil
company wills it, and the Standard will
never will it until it has control of the
oil fields of Manchuria.' y
This Lawsonesque statement was
made today by a large merchant OF
Shanghai, China, who has been in bust
ness in the orient and has handled
American oil in that part of the world
for years. He bases his assertion on
the condition which existed in the east
before the beginning of the presentwar,
and on his knowledge of certain plans
and desires Of the American oil trust, as
regards the far eastern trade. For OBJ
vious reasons he does not care to come
out in any formal statement over his
own signature. He is still in business
dard Oil company, and may continue
to do so.
"Before war broke out,' said he to-
day, Hthe vast oil fields Of Manchuria
were not thorolv worked. They supplied
| oil for Manchuria and other parts Of the
east, but no attempt was made to fully
develop their wonderful possibilities
The Russian government, thru the Rus;
sian Chinese banks, supported and aided
in this development Of the Manchurian
oil fields. Merchants and other large
oil buyers were given special privileges
at the Russian Chinese bank, Of which
they bought Manchurian oil exclusively
Purchasers Of American and other oil;
were compelled to come promptly tt
scratch in all financial dealings, bu1
the favored buyers enjoyed special dis
| business.
/ Says America Was Hit.
/ coil was formerly one of the princi
pal articles of import into Manchuris
and most Of it was American oil. Thi'
play on the part Of the Russian gov
eminent tho, soon cut the business dow1
to almost nothing. The same sort Of {
game was played on other American
! imports. American cotton goods, which
formerly came into the country in larg.
quantities, were purposely initiated
even to the brands and special weaves
and the business fell off. The develop
ment Of the Yalu lumber districts TO
territory resulted in cutting down tn
business Of American lumbermen.
"Russia now knows that she vii
have to pull out Of Manchuria, at leas
that is my opinion. If she can in som
underhanded way dispose Of the oil
4 field holdings to American buyers an
reap some benefit, she will certainl
do it. An American concern could tax
hold Of this proposition better tina
any other, for in the light Of the re
J cent developments and the assistanc
} rendered by President Roosevelt, Japa
: would hardly try to expel them, {
} even question the manner in which the
: came to be there.
"Then the company will see wo1
derful growth and development as 500
as the war is over. There, will be bus
ness there and the Standard Oil con
: pany will eafter it long before an
: other combination. 1t has succeede
J by being first and having some appa
! ent claim on everything in sight.
- II know that this is a broad stat
ment, but T believe that an investig;
ton woud bear out my claim and thu
developments will prove it. Whe
{ the Standard Oil company has all tt
oil regions well under its control the1
will be a better chance of peace.''