New-York tribune., 1921-05-13
Dutch Refuse
Oil Rights in
Reply to u. $.
Note Received at State
Department Says Pro-
test Came After Hague
Parliament Had Acted
America May Retaliate
Ready to Close Fields Here
TO Netherlands if She
Keeps East Indies Shut
From The Triouns's Washington spreas

From The Tyfbuns's Wushinoton BpYedx
WASHINGTON, ay 12.--The Neither
lands governments reply to the Amer
lean protest against discriminatory ex-
clusion of American interests in the
oil fields of the Dutch East Indies, re-
ceived to-day by the State Department.
is to be followed by vigorous demand
that the open door policy be main
tanned in the oil fields of that govern
ment, it was indicated tonight in an
informal statement authorized by the
State Department.
In the answer from the Dutch gov
ernment, the assertion is made that
the concessions recently granted to
the Bataafsche Company by the
Netherlands Parliament were author
lied before this government had filed
any protest. This view is resisted by
the State Department, which discloses
that on June B. 1920, American Minister
Phillips, at the Hague, urged the posi-
tion of equal opportunities for Ameri-
tion of the Dutch Parliament was
taken less than month ago.
Responsible officials indicated to-
day that the State Department would
insist upon equal opportunities in
Dutch oil territories, and falling to be
accorded this equality exclusion of
Dutch interests from the American
oil fields would follow.
Resume of Negotiations
The following informal statement Of
the negotiations which have been in
progress between this government and
the Dutch Foreign Office over oil con-
cessions was authorized tonight by
the State Department:
"The department has received sum-
mary of the reply of the Dutch gov
ernment to its last communication
with regard to the participation of
American interests in the Djambi Oil
fields. The Dutch Foreign office
makes the point that Netherlands leg
islation does not draw any distinction
between Dutch and foreign capital in
the exploitation of oil fields and as-
serts it's desire to see American capi-
tai take part in this exploitation. The
Minister of Foreign Affairs says once
more that, when last January Mr..
Philips requested on behalf of the
American government, that American
companies be permitted to participate
in the Djambi concession, the law
which has since been passed by the
9SSOtlQ Sltd1HOCL Hdu dlIcdQy USSll
drafted and that the question pending
the approval OF parliament had been
settled.
son June 80, 1920, the Netherlands
legation at Washington addressed
note to the Department of State set
ting forth that Dutch-eontrolled COM
panies should not be excluded from
leases on American public lands, since,
it was represented, American citizens
were treated on an equality with Dutch
citizens in the Netherlands East Indies.
The Netherlands legation at Washing
ton addressed another note 20 the De-
1920, submitting additional information
regarding the Netherlands East Indian
mining laws.
To these communications the depart
ment replied on November 2, 1920, that
it did not appear that American citi-
zens were given privileges in the Meth
erlands East Indies similar to those
provided by the general leasing law
The occasion was taken, to refer to the
pending Djambi bill and to the fact
that American companies had thus far
been unsuccessful in their applications
for share in the concession 1t was
stated that the disposition of the
Djambi field at the present. time in the
nSiPbideSu III bhS proposed
agreement impressed the government
of the United States as an indication
of a policy to exclude companies con-
trolled by American citizens from the
petroleum industry of the Netherlands
East Indies.
1.-The interest of this government in
the matter was expressed to the Meth
erlands government by the American
Legation at The Hague as soon as it
was known that the present bill was
under consideration by the Netherlands
State Council and before the introduc
tion of the bill into the Second Cham
Der of the Parliament On June s,
1920, the American Minister at The
Hague addressed an inquiry to the
Netherlands government regarding the
mining laws of the Netherlands East
Indies, in order that he might be in
position to assure American interests
that they were welcome in that region.
In August, 1920, the representative of
responsible American oil company at
The Hague made application for par
ticipation in the concession. The bill