The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-11-24
FEAR COMPLICATIONS
President Expected Either tn
Qualify or Alter His
Policy.
BIG INTERESTS INVOLVED
Powers Eager to Secure Fuel
supply for Great Mpr-
chant Fleets.

WAsHlHcToS Nov. o3.-Reccnt agitas
tion over the oil concession held by Lori
Cowdray in Mexico and the exploitation
rights he is seeking in the oil fields a
Colombia. Venezuela and Ecuador have
ierved to arouse many in Washington
official life TO a realization Of the great
international significance of what 10
So.ng on with respect to the oil reRionS
in the vicinity of the Panama Canal
As viewed by shrcwd students oi
foreign relations here. the present trend
of events is leading directly toward q
natural conflict Of great intercs,s over
the question of the oil production uf tht
Caribbean countries. Many fear that
eventually this conflict of interests viii
create IA situation which Will embarras'
This Government to a greater extent
even than the present McNica tanG.e
Tin" people Of the United States AMI
Great l;rltdin have senscd in part the
significance OF the British Governments
interest in the Cowdray oil properties iN
Mexico through the relations Of tina.
Government TO the Huerta regime ~
MtA!c1.
1t i not generally realized. however,
that not only is the Interest nf the l,r.t.
ish GOV rlament in the cowdrdy cui-
ccssions in Mexico vital and immutablr
.or an Indefinite period but that it ~
extending It's moral support to his com.
piny In efforts which. # successful,
would give to the British concern
virtual control OF the jor portion OF
the oil production in the region of the
Panama Canal
! What such a control would mean can
! hardly be appreciated until two great
. facts but little known are taken into
. consideration. one = that the mcr-
camille marine Is rapidly converting it.
self into an oil consuming instead of q
coal burning agency. The other is thai
by virtue Of the richness of the Mcxi-
an and other Caribbean oil fields to-
cethcr wit. their location, oil from these
regions can he laid down al the Panama
Canal for about half the cost OF coal
delivered At the same spot.
both of vital Importance.
Thesr two facts. it is declared by ex-
perts. are alone sufficient To insure the
uubounded success Of the Panama
Canal and max. the control Of the Car.
unean oil fields tremendous weapon
in tlc hands Of their poss"ssor.
Great Britain has seen this and Ia
preparing accordingly, as evidenced by
the operations of tine Pearson interests.
There is reason Ia believe that Ger
many is awakeu.ng 10 the situation and
may shortly hc fuUnd active in an en-
dcavor 10 secure for herself a supply OF
oil for Ncr great merchant fleet. half OF
which is engaged in "A vast trade IN the
Western Hemisphere.
France, likewise s becoming inter
cstcd while American private interests
are already ENGAGED in keen rivalry
with the british throughout the Car.
lupe.n countries.
VIA. would hc a perfectly normal
situation Of keen competition for ac-
uu.sitiun ot one ot the richest oil folds
tnr world has ever yet known is COM
p,iraird hy the att!tud" taken by Pres
idcnt NHSou with respect to the de-
vclopreAt of Latin American uatura.
resources. President W lsos, in his Mo-
bile speech. declared himself as opposed
to the 3rYanting of concessions by iu;n
American Governments and announced
that il Was the mission Of thu United
Statos To free these Governments from
foreign domination.
# h tn" belief here that Il President
Wilson eudcaVors to pat tOIs d"'lHrd-
ton into pract.cai eff'rt hn viii haN
embarked upon a very hp'i poutN o.
iutcrnatiunt domination aHd tHai il"
will have to prepare h.me' 'N for COM
plicatiuns with the Ola Word Powers
Opposed both Here aud \hr"""'
I-utu Irr-idcnJ Wilson IAN amphiied
his Mobile declarations th"r" VIII De
a dispos.tion IN Washington, not merely
in urlyat. sources. but IN h.eh Official
. ul,r,s 10 believe that IA" Wal he ohl!Sed
tn nualify or alter tnis policy. II IN"
president should attempt to translai"
his ethical views into 4 practical policy
u opnpspl ONLY ~