The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-21

cessions or the opening Of new fields
will have on the world supply OF
petroleum. This. OF course, has now
become an increasing element In
American business policies. We may
determine to attempt real and extern
sivo invasion of Turkish, Mesopo-
tamian and Persian oil fields; and
in case Russian fields are opened by
the soviet authorities on terms
which Justify the risks involved, di-
rect American investment may be-
come q new element In the situation.
In the main. however, the sensa-
tional rumors coming from Genoa
have centered on the reported at
Itcmpts OF the Royal Dutch-S Shell in
torests TO return 10 the Russian field.
either to salvage their properties
there or To secure new concessions
on terms offered by the soviet au-
thorities Naturally these reports OF
negotiations which have apparently
extended over the last year or more
! have aroused anxiety on the part ot
other interests which either had old
! properties or which were Themselves
attempting on a smaller scale 20 win
Ian entry into Russian petroleum
| fields Some Of these interests have
! privately and with great secrecy
| bocn negotiating with former Baku
| capitalists. u Is quite possible that
| tho hope has been entertained that
the soviet regime was coming to an
end and that the Caucasus might
again revolt against Moscow. Claims
land titles Of former Russian owners
have therefore been bought by for
! eign capitalists who arc gambling on
soviet collapse. In any case, new
| Belgian Oh company has recently
been organized for Russian business.
while both in old and new ventures
/ Belgian capitalists have large inter-
csts. Several Of these investors have
/ an important place in Belgian H.
nancial and political life, and have
undoubtedly oxertod Influence at
| Brussels 90 protect their interests
| in the recent crisis.
without attempting to enter into
| too much detail, Il is evident that
oil interests Of various nationalities
have been quietly preparing during
/ the last year TO re-enter the Russian
| field. These interests have been
| waiting TO see what turn events
might take at Genoa: but advance
negotiations have already taken
place on a large scale. In spite of
the unstable situation and the un-
certainty Of the future In Russia,
the struggle has privately begun for
the development of Russian oil
fields. We see the amazing spec
tacle OF capitalists of the world wait
| ing the signal for a new sort of oil
rush, a contest az TO terms to he
made with soviet Russia. The re-
action OF this state of affairs be-
/ hind the scenes at Genoa on the pub
| lie and political negotiations is oh
vious For side by side with the
manoeuVres protests and passionate
appeals OF the political chieftains at
Genoa and Paris and Moscow there
| is struggle going on between va
rious financial groups TO determine
their position in the future develop
ment OF business in Russia.
The Dutch-Sheli Combination.
Of these groups the most import
ant has been the Royal Dutch-S Shell
syndicate. Before the war 1t ranked
In strength as world organization
with the Standard Oil and the Ger
man European Petroleum union.
There were. other corporations and
syndicates, such as Anglo Persian
| Spier and Pearson combinations.
but In the Russian field the Dutch
| Shell combination was easily the
|
oil interests suffered an eclipse and
the Dutch-shell Is today the largest
single oil organization in Europe.
| Originally the Royal Dutch was
largely a producing company, with
Its wells chiefly in the Dutch East
indies. Later IL made an arrange
| ment for marketing It's supplies
through the (British) Shell COM
pany.
In bare outline the growth OF the
Shell oil interest dates back so years
to the time when the founder and
present head, Sir Marcus Samuels,
owned small ship chandler's shop
in London. There no sold among
other things shells for the decora-
tion of the costermonger's gayest
raiment. on trousers and coats were
sewn the long rows of shell buttons
which were to him the badges OF
fashion and business prosperity. on
center table and mantelpiece in the
tiny sitting room of the costermon-
gers home stood boxes decorated
with shells, To this shop of Samuels
there came also skippers OF all sorts
who wished TO lay in supplies and
to buy oil In small quantities, for
this was still the day of Kerosene
lamps. Finally Samuels began to
import oil in bulk and to retail It
in small quantities. His first oil
boat. however, he named for a shell.
Thus began the Shell line of oil
steamers, each of which was named
after shell. oil wells In Borneo
followed; new and subsidiary COM
panies were organized and gradually
the Shell oil interest became a pow
erful factor in English business
The Royal Dutch company then
made Its bargain with the Shell
group and thus began the whole Sc
ries of companies which belong to
this new syndicate. Each. however,
represents 60 per cent Royal Dutch
and 40 per cent Shell interest. The
range of enterprise has increased
rapidly. More recently they have
entered the American field, and now