The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16

| lie the riches OF our soil We must
! have oil fields, we must enliven and en-
! large our enterprises. direct toward
| France part Of their production and
assure its continuance We must bring
! under our flag a tank ship fleet CON-
! mensurate with our needs unless we are
to abandon our efforts for Independence,
We are. therefore, decided 10 demand
that all producing groups, in exchange
for the liberty which is given them to
participate proportionately IN their inn
portations, should aid in the develop
ment OF this new policy. The control
which we envisage has no other object
The text OF the 5I,l follows:
Article 1.-The wholesale commerce
Of Importation and refining of petroleum
products is to be exercised in virtue OF
an authorization previously delivered by
the Minister OF Public Works.
article 1.-THE public administrative
regulation will determine the conditions
under which this authorization will be
accorded especially the aid which must
be given by the beneficiar!es to the de-
velopment or the French petroleum in
,lustry or tank fleet flying the French
flag and the refining industry on French
soil
article T1T---Petroleum producers.
importers and manufacturers benefiting
By the authorization will be Obliged TO
declare monthly 70 the Minister of Pub
lie Works for the preceding month and
according TO the category of their prod
ucts. the quantities and qualities i'm
ported. the place or origin and method
OF delivery. existing stocks and their
distribution. The control of these declar-
ations is 10 be exercised by the Minister
Of Public Works.
i,To ptcta Of
Works will determine the laws whereby
priority supplies will be reserved to the
public services and will fix, from each
manufacturer or importer the proportion
of stock which must be maintained and
kept in good condition as reserve. Ex-
cept for special variations, reserve stocks
must never fall below n quantity equal
to three months consumption.
Article V.--The Minister OF Public
Works may in the national interests bar
! by limitation of purchase certain spe-
cially designed supplies and their i'm
| portation under the French flag in de-
, termined contingencies. Manufacturers
and importers are TO be bound by this
| obligation proportionally to their pro-
duction or importation.
Article VI. In case the beneticiaries
! of authorization do not conform to tho
clauses OF national interest heretofore
determined. the Administration must ar
range punishment to be applied and
eventually the method for the suspension
\ of authorization.
| article VII. From the application OF
| this law there viii be instituted under
! the Minister OF Public Works a direc-
| ton OF essences and petroleums
article VIII. The law will he APP
| plicable 20 Alsace-Lorraine and Algeria.
| The DEGREES may extend It's application
| to other colonies"
| Il will be seen that while the proposes
| lay is n great step forward from the
present system. which gives practically
complete control in French markets 20
! the British oil interests, Il Is still "a long
way from being an open market with
! freedom of competition, as asked for oy
! Mr.. Bedford, chairman OF the board OF
/ directors of the Standard OH Company
of New Jersey. on his trip to France re-
Gently. In faot. the French Government
| still holds formidable weapon in Ar
/ ticle vi, whereby Il can withdraw all
concessions IL the most complete COM
pliance with the Governments demands
is not obtained. II cannot be doubted,
however, that tho Standard Oil Com
pany's appearance IN the European field
and its promises OF giving to French
! industry the benefit Of its elaborate sys-
| TEN OF delivery and distribution had
much to do with tho Cabinets decision
| TO do away with the cartel OF Ten re-
| finers who have 80 far benefited as
silent partners OF the Royal Dutch hold
/ on tho French market