The Washington herald., 1921-02-26
AMERICAN OIL
INTERESTS WIN
HARDING AID
G. g. p. Regime Will Meet
Britain on All Com.
petitive Fields.
RACE FOR SUPPLIES
TO BE AGGRESSIVE
New Stand on Colombian
Treaty Due to Strong
Petroleum Policy.
BY ROBERT BARRY.

The Harding administration Will
carry the American flag into the !
oil fields of the world to give bat
tie to British competition.
1t will match American initiative |
against all comers, but it will un-
dertake to give American oil men
a fair start in the race for sup
plies of the predominant fuel Of
the next generation. Republican
leaders propose to aid the oil men
of the United States instead of
twirling their thumbs and protest.
ing against British activities.
1t became known here yesterday
that several policies have assumed
somewhat definite outline. There
is virtual unanimity of sentiment
among Senators, and those now in
clined to protest the course are re-
garded as likely to fall into line
when the real purpose of the party
program is made clear to them.
Harding Has All Facts.
The President ELECT is in full pos
session Of all the facts in the case.
He is represented as being in COM
plete accord with the primary OBJ
jects of the program.
Statements confirming the above
summaries of the Republican pro-
gram were made in explanation of
what seemed at first hand an in
explicable right-about-face of the
Republican leadership on the long
standing issue of the Colombian
treaty. There was no secret in tho
fact that American oil interests CEN
tering in Pittsburgh had been work
ing for some weeks to develop Re-
publican sentiment favorable to rat
ification of the treaty, which had
been kicking around the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee since
Theodafe Roosevelt took the Pan
anna Canal strip.
The oil men wanted the treaty in
order that they might receive IA
vorable treatment from the Colom-
bian government. They held that
prejudice. If not actually discrimi-
nation, against American interests
was certain so long as the treaty re-
ton and Bogota. Senators Knox and
Penrose were special targets for the
agitation of the Pittsburgh oil men,
whose representatives came to
Washington early this year.
Daugherty Favors Treaty.
That the Colombian treaty would
be, ratified very early in the spe-
cial session of the Senate. to meet
Immediately after March 4. became
known some days ago. Senator
Harding was won over to the pro-
posal by Harry NJ. Dsugherty. SEN
ator Henry Cabot Lodge is given
credit for having convinced Mr..
Daugherty that ratification should
be brought about. The Attorney
General definitely announced Thurs
day that the treaty would be ap-
proved. 1t will carry the s25.000, 900
payment which irrecopcilable op-
ponents have contended constituted
an admission of improper acts by
President Roosevelt, even though
the apology clauses were elimi-
mated
Ratification of the Colombian
treaty is but one step in the Re-
publican program. There are very
substantial indications to the effect
that the Mexican policy of the new
administration will be guided in
large measure by Albert b. Fall, of
New Mexico, acting as Secretary of
the Interior, and Henry p. Fletcher,
of Pennsylvania, as Undersecretary
of State.
Favorable treatment of American
oil interests in Mexico, 1t is stated,
will be the keynote of the Harding
policy, and 1t Is argued that none
Is in a better position to talk busi-
ness with the Mexican authorities
than Senator Fall and Mr.. Fletcher.
1t is believed little time will be
lost in coming to an understanding
with President Obregon.
The story does not end with Co
lombia and Mexico. 1t embraces
nearly all of Central America, IL
not any part OF the world where
oil may be obtained in quantity.
Case Of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica presents another case
in point. The Wilson administra-
tion refused to recognize the Tinoco
government in Costa Rica. 1t fell
after brief tenure. Tinoco was re-
garded as friendly to the United
States. The government headed by
Julio Acosta has been represented
as leaning toward British influence.
There is a resolution pending in
the Senate now for information
from the President as to reported
grants of valuable oil concessions
to the British. Discussion of the
resolution has included intimation
of British coercion. The name of
the British Minister has been in
volved through statements to the
effect he drove up to the Presi-
dents house in a battleship" and
secured q signature on a dotted line.
Republican leaders have not fall
ed to take official notice of British
activities in the principal oil fields
Of tho world. The story of Meso-
potamia has not escaped them. They
are aware also of some details of
British policy which looks for TWEEN
ty-five or thirty years into the fu-
ture. The response of the Repub-
lican leaders Is to have America go
out to beat Britain at her own
game.
Copyright, 1891, BY Public ledger Coz