The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-20
THE WORLD STRUGGLE FOR
OIL

All the world is now engaged IN a
krrr,enLous struggle for oil. Nations
(which control production areas anu
other nations which wish to obtain pro-
auction PRIVILEGES FOR their citizens are
Snsascd in diplomatic contest "h'''
~ times tends TO become extremely o''-
arr. Nations which Dc not conir'l pro-
emotion areas and do not HAY" c'''['"S
engaged In production, are passing ne"
laws 20 regulate trade II petroleum anu
Its products.
Just at present. .Nmcrica. Great
Britain and Mexico ara engage" IN /"
tnrcc-corncrcd oil nkht Of III" create:
Importance. Mexico has Incorporated III
her ucY constitution tn" r1"''r.' '""'
petroleum Is the property 1t ~" H'''''
Under Carrauza, an attempt MAS !"'"c
10 take away petroleum lands aIrrad|
IDEALLY acquired BY Foreigners and L
make certain provisions IS :" foreign
Investments in oil production r"tr"''-
live. The United States government
Immediately protected this acton ana
tie matter is not -: S"ttl"d. although
President Obregou has g1E." assurances
Of fair treatment.
Just before ObrvGon WAS inauSurateo'
President De La Hucr;u made valuable
concessions to BRITISH. interests. whIrA
are said t. cncruprh upon American
HOLDINGS. A. the sarUH time. tho Mex
ican Eagle Oh company. controlled oy
British interests Withdrew from tae
Association Of Oh Producers. whose OBJ
ioct is 10 protect the F.cat rights o.;
fsrcisners who hold MEXICAN OIL lands
II appcars. then. that ;hc Obregon ad-
ministration wall have - decide between
british and American claims.
In the administration Of Mesopotam'2,
over which Great Britain has class
A.. or limited mandate. there has ar-
tSared a tendency to bar this country
from equal opportunity 10 participate
In oil Development. Recently, this
obvious tendency called forth I rather
sharp note tc0m our state department
and the matter = stall pendiHg
..Of the nations which are not great
produccrs. France is on" of the mos;
important \ bill IS now pending ~ the
chamber % deputies At Paris IN which
frances petroleum policy Is ou;''n,I
FROM tttF L EcllCh y -" l''s''N' N''''l.F -
.tOn l. changing from the locality OF
Production T. the locality where !; is
rousumN6." and 1t notes "avcly rtv-
airy amcng the great foreign producers
for the conquest OF our interior Iuar-
kets."
In this situation. the French govern
mcnt announces that il Will neither
maintain nor concedc any oil trading
monopoly. but Will Grauc equal priTI-
leges 70 al foreign oil companies which
will aid France in the uNbutldInG Of q
great reserve OF raw and refined oils
and the creation Of French tank ships
and retner!es." It is further stated
that oil power has been developed t"
such an extent as 70 coincide with the
policies OF governments, and that
French national interests would be
compromised if it continued. rs IA as
oil is concerned, to remain n customer
abroad and above all. Of any particular
group. Oil "slavNry'' !; is Declared,
might degenerate into political slavery.
France. therefore. will cndcoEVr -
build up a great oil refining industry
OF her own and to establish i lin" e go!
tanknrs. UN 70 the rrrS"a' tila"
british Interests have practically lar-
ropol.zcl the French marH", The
pend:us bill VIII end that monopoly ami
-arow open French markets On cGWa!
terms TO al. provided that every CON-
petitor assist IN the development cr ~
french policy hy Importing The Pu'"t'-
ties demanded by Franz" u k',.H g liked
'rrsrryr on hands in good Cuad.t."u n