New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16
Charges American
Oil Interests Seek
World Monopoly
Sir Charles Creenway, Head
of British Co., Decries
Plea for u. s. Producers;
No Closed Door, He Says

Charges that powerful American oil
interests are seeking 70 obtain and
maintain monopoly of the worlds
principal sources of petroleum produc-
ton are made by Sir Charles Green
way, chairman Of the board of the
Anglo Persian Oil Company. Ltd in q
report submitted to the stockholders Of
the English concern at the annual
meeting in London. The Anglo-Pcr-
s:an Oh Company, Lto.. is engaged 70
exploiting the Mesopotam fields and
has lately become involved in the coz
troversy arising out of efforts MADE 20
keep American interests out of that
region.
Referring to the alleged monopolist.c
viewpoint OF the American oil inter-
ests, Sir Charles says: Il would like
10 refer 20 the pathetic account which
vas given recently in the press Of the
enormous sacrifices which the Jnletd
states had made in depicting Itself
rel; without valuable consideration, he
it membered--oi it's reserves of oil
for the welfare of the rest Of the
world This was made the basis Tor
claiming that American producers are
entitled to their share in future Oh
felds outside of America, as well as
the enormous ones in the United
states and elsewhere which they at
ready hold ! am now wondering when
we shall see similar demands put for
ward by the Bolshevsts in regard TO
the oil supplied to other countries
fYom Baku during the last thirty or
forty years and from &c gold pro
dacers Of South Africa, and even from
our own collery proprletors for the
gold and coal of which they have de
neted them selves--~for the welfare Of
the rest of the world. But ! would
Ike to point out that the drain on
American reserves will be checked gust
as much, and, in fact. a gseat deal
more. If those outside territories are
worked by British, French or other
nationals than they would If worked
bv Americans. need not 20 into the
reasons for this; they are obv Gus. The
only difference is that in the latter
case America would still command its
so per cent 10 IS per cent of the OH
supplies Of the world, and the rest III
the world be still left almost entirely
dependent upon the present MONOPOLY.
No one can reasonably object TO
American producers claiming q Jar
share of the worlds supplies. Bu,
every other country IN the world Us
entitled 20 object to their demanding d
permanent so to So per cent OF the
worlds supplies. and 10 resent most
strongly their opposition to the at
tenpts OF Great Britain and other
countries to secure their fair share 81
these supplies and one more nearly
corresponding TO their own require
ments.'
SIR Charles declares there is no ques-
ton Of a CLOSED door policy with re-
gard to America and the Mesopotamiar
o; fields The Standard OH Company
hefore the war claims to have acquired
certain oil rights in Palestine which
may, for all any one knows to-day. oe
inst as valuable as the Mesopotamiar
ell rights. Similarly. we and other ma
tionais before the war acquired rlgnt-
in Mesopotama md in other parts o.
the former Turkish Empire. All o.
these rights will necessarily have &c
be recognized. to the extent OF ths
non-enemy interests in them, by TIE
administrati e. Arab or whatever else
it may he. which eventually undertakes
TIE government of the inundated terri
tories, unless, OF course, the principle.
Of Bolshevism are TO be adopted il
tion here of the closed door to Amer
lea, but quite the cor -rary. L tbs
Standard Oil Company's rights III fai
estine are TO be recognized and
have seen no indication that they have
any desire TO abandon them-our right
and the rights Of other nationals othc,
tan enemy in the late Turkish Empire
must equally be recognized. To ac
otherwise would be TO adopt the polio.
Of the closed door in favor of Americ.
and against British and other natiora
interests This object is no douh' th
one that the supporters Of the Agitation
, nave IN view in the strong opposltlol
which they have, in this and other d.
rections, set UP against the attem pts o
this country to make itself less depen
dent upon foreign controlled concern
for its supplies of oil.
According to Sir Charles, A. c. Bed
ford head of the .Standard Oil Com
pany Of New Jersey, while in Englan
recently called upon him ard disc sse
the differences between the British an
American oil interests. ION my eX
planning to him the misapprehen lo'
which existed on the American side Il
to the alleged closed door policy il
Mesopotamia," said Sir Charles. II ar
pleased 20 say that ne appeared TO b
quite satisfied and gave me an assur
Ance that he would make it his frs
3 ddtN on arrival in America to eadeavo
to clear IN the unfortunate misundeg
standing which exists on this subjec
between the two countries.'
TO Develop Mexican Oil Field