Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-19
Circulation Every 1AO0Q
Evening Yesterday l4ZOO
Irterest in the Oil Situation.

Direct interest in the important matter
of a supply of oil for all the various pur-
poses for which its use is demanded was
created recently by q statement that 81
present the consumption OF oil is exceed
INC the supply. This means that unless
special and efficient effort is directed
towards increasing the supply, prices
will 90 still higher, and it is the unanimous
testimony of all concerned in procuring
oil that prices are too high already.
Very timely, therefore, was further
direct reference TO the subject IN the form
sc information sent TO the United states
senate bv President Wilson, on Monday,
~ responsc 10 resolution asking what
disabilities attached to-Amerlcan partlci-
nation in the petroleum resources OF the
world, and what diplomatic efforts mad
been made to remove the restrictions upon
oil DEVELOPMENT by Americans elsewhere
than in the United States. The response
vas in the form. mainly, Of special
report from the State Department.
I-nessness has been created by recent
developments Of the special interest of
the British government IN the direction
II controlling the oil supplies ot the
Emnire's colonies and protectoratcs, and
also in Turkey. Naturally. such
movement gives rise to the fear that dis
rrimination of outside agencies may be
amnloved 10 make sure the control 81
Grast Britain over all such oil fields
IN fact there is no disguise Of the purpose
Of Great Britain TO restrict the OIL opera
tions in the territory over which that
country is supreme to British nationals.
and such a procedure. the report SAID
would seem to be justified from the view
noint of international law. however I'M
polite it might be as regards reciprocity
and Internationally It was added
that the policies Of France, Japan and
Holland were somewhat the same as that
of Great Britain. but in effect OF minor
Importance.
Asa method Of protecting the interests
Of our own country, Senator Phelan OF
Californis has introduced resolution
authorizing the formation Of the United
States Oil Corporation, modelled on the
plan of the Shipping Board, 70 encourage
and stimulate the development by Amerl-
cans of oil lands outside Of the United
States. ownership Of the stock TO be re-
stricted to American citizens and the
government to retain preferential right
to take over any or all Of the product Tor
lis own use. This is a move Tor the pro-
lection of home interests. but It cannot
be claimed that il assures the best results.
The suggestion Of corporation" ior
such purpose IS not assuring. even with
a reservation by our government OF the
right to take all the oil thus acquired 1t
NAV need for It's own use. There would
be plenty Of opportunities Tor evsdng
this requirement. and also plenty oi under
hand means of getting aside the restnctlon
as TO home ownership OF the corporation $
stock
The entire question Is international IN
its extent and bearing Oil is an essential
To all the civilized world How much OF
IL exists in the bowels of the earth IS
problematical, but there is belief the
supply is sufficient to last for many
wears. and to meet all demands il eff
cientiv and economically produced and
fairly distributed But there can be no
such distribution, with even ordinary
regard for the necessities of the people OF
all nations. with each of the powerful
governments endeavoring, by legislation
or combination. to make sure of its own
requirements. The result surely would
be that some nations would have more oil
than they needed, and others much less.
Also, such a scheme of self-protection
would be productive of disputes and
clashes. Great Britain would resent all
endeavors by foreigners to encroach upon
her oil territory. Our country would
look jealousiy TO its own possessions, and
resent any foreign monopoly of the oil
fields In Mexico. But does not this situa-
ton afford fair field for an honorable
and just international agreement az TO
operation and distribution? Is it not
possible to conserve the oil sources Of the
entire world, to internationally oversee
the output and distribution. and TO make
assignments of the product that would be
fair to all?
This may seem chimerical but why
should it prove to be 50? The human
mind surely is capable of graphing with
a problem Of this character and solving
it successfully. Adherence to the Golden
Rule and the policy Of '1ive and let live"
would bring the answer. And such a
plan would be infinitely better than con
tinual international possibly
wars.