The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-05-26
FEAR PUBLICITY
concerning Oh.
Investors In Mexico Oppose
Publication of Govern
ment Report
THINK TRUTH MAY
AFFECT PRICES
Another Faction Thinks Americans
Should Have Facts-Predicted MeNi-
cos Oil May BE Exhausted Within rs
NIOnths-LOOk for New Supply.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.


Especial Dispatch to The Reformcr.)
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, May 2G.-Are Mex
ico's oil wells running dry? The effort to
get the government here to issue some
announcement answering that question
has behind it a series of conflicting Gle
sires and interests. Thus far the depart
ment of state which has been asked by
Chairman Porter of the house committee
on foreign affairs for n complete report
on the oil resources Of Mexico has not yet
assembled its data. or seen fit to publish
its conclusions. The controversy as to
whether or not the material should be
published is unusual in its character. One
element in the oil industry who have
holdings in Mexico and who fear the adj
verse effect of the report insist that the
government ought not to put its stamp
of approval on anything that might tend
TO diminish the value of oil stocks. An
other clement says that information in
possession of the government is public
property and that the American people
are entitled To know about it. They in
SiSt that the situation is parallel to that
which arises when through the United
States geological survey of the federal
trade commission figures are published
concerning the production of coal and
other commodities where the price de
ponds a good deal on the output. 1t is
fact that government officials have in
formally been cOnjecturing that Mexico's
oil wells are in danger of running dry and
estimates have been made that this would
happen anywhere between Is months aud
three years. From these informal refer
enceS to the oil supply have grown
rumors that the government had definite
data on hand. Pressure to get that data
published has led in one case to an official
denial that the government here had au-
thOriZed any statement on the question.
The department of state of course has no
experts who can tell when oil wells are
running dry. 1t must rely upon the
agents of the department of commerce.
the United States shipping board, and CON
suIar representatives which are in them
selves based on the opinions Of men in
the oil industry. While it is true that
some oil wells have been running dry in
Mexico. the counter argument is made
that with the establishment of friendly
relations with the Obregon government
Twill come drilling of new wells to make
up for those which may become yalueleSS.
The department of commerce. however,
is not relying on Mexico alone as Il
source of oil supply. 1t is already doing
| interests to get oil bearing areas IN
| South America. The situation is vital
| from the viewpoint of national defense
| for hitherto Mexico has furnished large
part of the worlds oil. There is no GER
| tainty either that the oil wells of the
| United States viii continue at their pres
ent capacity for more than is or 20 years.
and therefore far-secing government
I must concern itself with pew sources 81
lSupply
! Meanwhile. the issuance of the govern
lmcnt'S data on the subject is awaited with
especially keen interest by all factions in
the oil business. The Porter resolution
has not passed the house but Representa-
Tive Porter will probably be given the in
formation anyway. inasmuch as he is
chairman Of the foreign affairs committee
of the house and he can make a. much OF
| III public as he pleaSes