Evening star., 1920-11-21
STRUGGLE OIL
| CONTROL KEEPING
BIG POWERS APART
American Supremacy IN That
Field Endangered When
Deals Are Made.
BY PERTINAX.
:, Ger,ud. Editor l.Echo de Paris. !,

fBy Cable to The Star. Copyright. 1320)
PARIS, November 20.-The events
of last week in southern Russia and
Greece are compelling France and
England to reconsider their whole
eastern policy as it had been decided
on.
This is a matter Of an interest far
more vital than upon the surface
appears to the United States.
England for the time being is bent
upon seeking a solution of the very
puzsling difficulty by making trade
it is doubtful If such an undertaking
will succeed, and even should it do
SO. many formidable Asiatic dimcul-
ties will remain unaffected thereby.
OF Moscow to affect. They must be
dealt with separately.
The French prime minister. M.
Leygues, and Lloyd George are likely
to meet before long. On the French
side, the plea to be advanced will be
that the latest Greek developments
must be used in order to bring about
reconsideration of the terms of the
treaty with regard to Turkey, with a
view to the consolidation of the
Turkish nationalists and their rescue
from the hypnotic attraction which at
present Russia seems to be exercising
over them.
Economic Rivalry.
Reviewed as unprejudicedly as pos
sible. it seems that il the dangers Of
the present situation are to be re-
heved. some cooperation Of the
great and dependable powers must be
brought about, and that 1T now must
be admitted that economic rivalry.
rather than divergence Of political
thought. at present is at the bottom
OF the present fncapacity of France,
England and the. United States to
combine in an effective cooperation
The following details about the
Gil policy Of the powers will make
the point clear. For more than a
, year 1t has been the resolve Of Brit
ain to secure for her nationals the
exploitation Of the oil fields of Per-
been expressed in an unmistakable
| way. In order that she might achieve
the coveted monopoly. England at the
beginning of the present year tried
to secure controlling interest in the
Royal Dutch Shell Company. which,
ed 1t by the Turks before the war.
is entitled to- full 25 per cent par
ticipation in all Developments of all
the Mesopotamian fields.
Had such an achievement ma
terialized the Anglo-Persians Com
pany, which is state supported and
possesses a so per cent interest in the
concession. besides having prior
claims to the south Persian oil fields.
would have been free to do as 1t
Company is reported to have offered
to this plan its utmost resistance
and its power is very, great.
The result has been its signing of
contract for the ~Anglo-Persian output
to continue till the end of 1922.
NarAnyor has tried n onnelrf6a q N
alliance with the French interests that
are to be represented up to 25 per
cent interest in the Mesopotamian COM
bine. and it has been pressing the French
subsidiary company Of its own. es-
tablished in connection with the well
known Paris bank. the Union Parisienne.
Decisfon by France.
The French. government had a criti-
cal choice to make. Was il to look
for an Independent position while join.
ing hands with the Royal Dutch Shell or
to listen to the British suggestion and
come to an agreement with the Anglo
Persian? First, the move was toward
the former policy. but at the San Reno
meeting the latter was finally adopted
The French negotiators went 30 far
as to put themselves formally in the
hands Of England. by agreeing that
she should have the power to dtspossess
entirely the company established in
1914 already referred to, and carry out
the direct exploitation of the oil fields,
which would leave the French only the
pre-emption rights upon q quarter Of the
Mesopotamian output. a similar privi-
lege. moreover. being granted in relation
to Persian oil carried in pipe line
through inundated Syrian territory.
The London government probably
exploitation Of Mesopotamian oil
through the Anglo-Persian monopoly.
hut for the fact that a hint came from
America to the effect that were the
company formed In 1914 dispossessed.
and wore its concessions declared null
and void. American capital would claim
opportunity equal with that Of any
other nation.
support Of Anerican Rights.
The recent foundation of tho
French Standard Oil Company under
the leadership Of Jules Cambon. one
OF the most powerful men in France,
and Bedford, means the American
side has not entirely abandoned hope
of forcing recognition Of American
interests and using French recogni-
tion of these rights as a lever to
reach that end.
But with hands more or less bound
as they have been, it is unlikely that
France can do otherwise than to con-
clude the pourparlers already opened
with the Anglo-Persian company. aud
intrust the subsidiary French group
participating in the Anglo-Persian
established by Zaharof with the task
of doing the best possible with and
for the French interests.
Though unable to take the initia-
tive in the matter. owing to its posi-
zion Of dependence. the French gov
eminent. wishing that an adjustment
of oil difficulties may be brought
about between Britain and the
United States, is willing to make
necessary concessions.
II the natural wealth Of Russia and
the whole of Asia is treated as the
spoils Of war it is realized that CO.
operation between the powers can be
nothing further than an ideal phrase;
that every attempt to pacify the
great disturbed area must prove
futile In France 1t seems that there
must be much food for American
thought in this extraordinary situa-
ton America has been supreme in
oil. Is she to lose her hold COM
pletely?