The Washington times., 1921-11-09
BRITISH USED
j. 5. LOANS To
} STEAL TRADE
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loans wss to be purchased from Great
Britain"
The Significance OF the foregoing
disclosures is emphasized. as the re-
port points out. by the fact that the
law authorized loans TO foreign gov
ernments then engaged In war with
enemies OF the United States for the
purpose OF the prosecution OF the
war"
Great Britain owes the United States
l66.3l8,SbS.44 principal and s407,-
303 3,283.93 accrued interest. a total OF
$4,673,621, ,642.S7. The report shows
approximately $3.50 900, 900 was lent
20 Great Britain before the armistice
and approximately $3.50 100000 since
that date.
The report says this Government
holds no obligations OF Great Britain
for surplus munitions and food sup
plies sold TO her after the armistice.
The official referred to in the
Judiciary Committee Counsers finding
in connection with British oil activi-
ties was Robert p. Skinner, American
Consul-General In the British Isles,
rather than commercial attache, as
stated. His report was made on Oc-
tober Is, 1918, while the war was
still on and the United States Treasury
was open to Great Britain and the
other Allied Powers.
What Prompted Action.
The Consul-Generars report was
prepared on instructions from the
State Department, prompted by the
British governments acquisition OF
debentures OF the Royal Dutch Com
pany.
The report to the Judiciary Com
mittee includes Skinner's report to
the State Department under the cap
ton: 'Englands Attempt at World
Oil Monopoly"
This report is OF peculiar interest
now, In view OF the recent absorption
of the Union Oil Company. OF Della
ware. by the Shell combine, which em-
braces the Royal Dutch Company.
Consul-General Skinner reported:
1T is altogether likely that shares
Of some classes have been acquired
by the British government with IN
terror objects in view, and there
seems to be no reasonable doubt that
this is the case OF the Royal Dutch
concern.
''Tt Is a matter of common knowl-
edge that the British community is
VI, .calis Inlei esIed at present In
securing control of oil production In
various parts of the world, not oniy
for domestic purposes but Tor the
Of the mercantile ana
military fleets.
Reaching to Many Lands.
Expensive research work is being
undertaken at this moment IN the
United Kingdom under the direction
of Lord Cowdray, and efforts are be-
ing made to obtain and hold financial
control in case of producing properties
in Persia, Mexico. Venezuela, the
United States. Java, and very likely |
in other regions.
1T is not possible, of course, to |
know the precise details either as to
existing or contemplated organiza-
tions. These comprehensive plans. |
to which 1 have alluded constitute |
very important link in the chain OF
defensive commercial measures under
taken with q view to making the |
United Kingdom comparatively inde-
pendent of all other countries for the |
operation Of its fleets and the main |
tenance of its essential industries.
How Grip Is Kept.
ITO this end, as 1 have already re-
ported, a provision has been intro |
duced in the Defense of the Realm |
Regulations which is specifically ap- |
plicable to any oil field, which sets !
out that a person shall not without |
the consent of the Board of Trade |
transfer or agree to transfer to or for |
the benefit of an alien or a foreign |
controlled company any interest in !
any property or undertaking to which |
this regulation applies.
1T follows from this that, in so far |
as the Royal Dutch Company or the |
Shell Transport & Trading Company |
Ltd, to which il is allied, control oil I
properties In California and Okla |
homa, or anywhere else, IT Is forbid |
den, under severe penalties. that the |
ownership in those enterprises, or any |
portion thereof, shall be purchased or
sold by an American citizen.
mo doubt the department will de-
sire to inquire very closely into this