The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-09-17

would like to know more Of him.
Foreign In,asions. Both ways.
Editor World. Probably the most effective
method OF engaging the serious attention Of
Americans is to put before them the observa.
tlous Of mon with whom they are personally
acquainted and Tor whose judgment they have
respect. This is leading up 20 the subject of
reciprocity ln the oil business between the
United states ana foreign cOuntrios-a subject
that has frequently engaged our congressman
and diplomatic ascnts In Washington and our
nationals abroad.
Having been In Java Dutch East Indies for
year aa AN ctnployc OF Dutch oil company
in which an American oil company had some
working interest. g w. Emery Is well known
In Oklahoma and Kausas his work during the
last - years bringing him In contact with many
MIj-CoutIurut oil operators. Mr. Emery was
ln charge OF construction OF the six-inch pipe
Gushing field TO Nin'ta In 1874 and with that
company two yoars. I'm 1915 he became an en-.
pIoNe ot mo carter pH company, ana IN l92l,
wont 20 the island Of Java, which is Dutch
colony. the three Islands OF Java Born"o and
Sumatr1 forming what ts frequently known In
the east ~ Netherlands India.
There ls considerable production Of very
high grad" oil from these three Islands, prob
Shell syndicate controls the production OF oil
on these Islands TO the practical exclusion Of
American. operators, with the passive consent
of the Dutch government inasmuch three
ffths ot The capital Of the Dutch Shelf com
bluc is Dutch, two-flfths being British owned
time.
We viii let Mr. Emery explain the effect OF
the petroleum regulations and their Observance
In the Dutch East Indies, in a letter Just re-
cevcd from him by the writer
Il do not want to make this statement the
representative OF any particular company, but
Just as one purc-D American 20 another, 20 this
effect: Americans are practically excluded from
taking any part in the development OF the oil
industry OF Netherlands India. True, We can
get a permit to dIll In certain parts OF the
Islands, but. II we do. and should find oil. then
II Immediately becomes the property Of the gov
ornmcnt In such cases the government tells
us IL VIII pay us such remuneration as II thinks
just, naming no amount. but leaving everything
TO It's own idea OF what Is right and Just. This
recommendations of course applies only to the OK
pcuse incurred in the actual drilling etc. For
the oil the government owes nothing, having
reserved in its own ownership all minerals
Under such conditions what AmcriCGn--or
other national for that matter-would care TO
start work?
Again, If yeu I heard OF we'll drilling
In any part OF the Continent field and de-
what kind OF a showing IL making
could, ordinarily, satisfy our curiosity Here in
the Dutch Islands any attempt to learn some
thing OF any Dutch Shell well would be fore
stalled by the presence OF an armed policeman
at the boundary lines and the court order to
keep off, reinforced by tho refusal OF the gov
crnmcnt TO g!vo the public any data about
II feel that / can safely say that at least
| little country is closed tight against American
capital, After being here "a year feel as though
would like to see the Royal Dutch barred from
the United States. or the alternative of equal
opportunity for Americans in the Dutch East
Indies In the United States give foreign
capital the same opportunity offered our own
citizens
! This statement OF conditions existing in the
Dutch territory may be extended to apply to
practically every petroleum area OF the eastern
hemisphere, In India the Scotch English con-
! troll Is irOniCal, as In all Dutch territory, and
Americans are practically excluded, except as
/ 70 drilling and operation OF production, In which
work Americans eXccI and are quite generally
! gIvcn preference.
The Royal Dutch Shell combine has been cx-
United States and Is steadily acquiring acreage
and producing properties. Its agents even lob
! hled for months 10 secure such modification Of
statutes ana regulation at Washington az would
permit Il 20 have something OF an advantage
over our own citizens and To avoid some OF the
| publicity required of our native-horn and regis
tered citizens, At time In Indian Territory
when the 4N0O-acrc maximum was rigdly and
very arbitrarily enforced against every native
born citizen and corporation, submerged inter-
Csts OF Royal Dutch Shell held Approximately
$4,000 acres. while individual American citizens
could not acquire stock in one or more corpora
tlors IL the total exceeded the limit Of 4 500
acres These statements are matter Of record.
Canada permits citizens of the United States 10
acquire petroleum holdings on equal terms with
Its own nationals, Mexico and South American
operators Europe and Asia, however--the
cradle of ciVlliZatlon--are exceedingly cxaCtiug
as to United States citizens.
II seems to me the United States should be
about fed up foreign inVasiOus OF capital
politics and Innovations, with due Difference 10
the policies Of the gentlemen OF authority I'm
Washington. The spirit OF reciprocity IL en-
forced ought to tone down some Of the uppish-
ness that a. times Is rather embarrassing and
|vexHtlOus. The United states had quite lot of
trouble with Holland during the war, and since
but that country Is given fun recognition;
Whereas Mexico is hlacklsted at Westminster