The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-09
Worlds Supply of Oil Now
Causes International Race.
Three Big Corporations and
Governments in Struggle.
DEMAND EQUAL RIGHTS
Americans Refuse to Allow
Others Full Monopoly.
Must Have Same Privilege OF
Developing Industry Abroad.

| New York, Feb. 9.-The greatest
| commercial war of all time is being
waged for control of the worlds sup
| ply of petroleum.
powerful of all corporations-the
Standard Oil group on one side; the
Ang1o-Persian and Royal Dutch Shell
groups on the other.
Involves Governments.
Indirectly, it involves the govern
| ments of the United States and Great
Britain and possibly France and Hoi-
land. In addition, every independent
oil concern, both foreign and Ameri-
can, is affected and many of the
smaller nations of the world which
have oil fields within their boundaries
are being made to feel this struggle,
politically and economically.
DR.. Van H. Manning, acting head of
the American Petroleum institute, en-
phasized the vital importance of the
oil situation today in an exclusive in
terview with the United States. Man
ming, who formerly was director of the
bureau of mines, is now in charge of
the foreign relations division Of the
institute.
Fear for the Future.
"The oil problem of the future will
not be the finding of markets. but of
finding sources of supply" Manning
said.
1T is certain that the United States
will have to obtain a considerable por-
ton of its supply from outside terri
tories. It is of supreme consequence.
therefore. that there be an open door
policy thruout the world.
Neither the United States govern
ment nor the American people is ask
ing for a monopoly or for any privi-
-leges that would endanger the security
of other peoples"
Real Issues Beclouded.
Manning characterized statements
recently made to the United Press by
officials of the Anglo-Persian Oil COM
pany, which is controlled by the Brit
ish government thru stock ownership,
declaring the Standard Oil group is
seeking to dominate the oil situation
and limiting at support of the Amer
lean government as IAN attempt to be-
cloud the real issues"
THE American people will not be
miSled by any such transparent propa-
ganda,'' he said. 1T is untninkable
that any American company should
engage in a contest with the British
government.
THE interests and right of the
American people as a whole, rather
than those of any one or several COM
panies, are involved in the recent dis
cussion between the American and
British governments regarding petro-
leum."
Demand Equal Rights.
Manning referred to the American
state department notifying Great Bri-
tain that the open door" principle
must be observed in Mesopotamia
over which the British have a League
of Nations mandate, limiting that other
wise an embargo on American oil ship
ments to Great Britain might be in
voked.
1.-The question is, shall Americans
have equal rights to engage in the de-
velopment of the resources of the
world with citizens of other nations.
and shall Americans be granted the
same privileges abroad which citizens
of other nations have enjoyed in the
United States?" Manning declared.
Want To Be Friendly.
ITO America, it is obvious. we are
entitled to these rights, especially in
territories which as co-victors in the
war, we helped to make accessible for
development.
Americans ask the British for
friendly discussion of the merits of
the conflicting claims and the posi-
bility of reconciling divergence of in
terests. No good can come from
pickering and INSTRUMENTATION"