Evening star., 1923-04-01
BY q. GOULD LINCOLN.

~ ETROLEUM and it's by-products,
- dominating influences in COM
mercial development and po-
N tentially vital necessities for
national defense, have recently been
brought to the attention of Congress
and the people through two ex-
haustive reports. One of these is the
report of the Senate committee on
manufactures, primarily dealing with
the prices OF gasoline in this country.
The other is a report of the Federal
Trade Commission in response to a
Senate resolution asking for informa-
tion regarding foreign interests en-
gagged in oil production in this coun-
try and the discrimination by foreign
countries against American interests
seeking to develop oil within their
borders.
Emphasis is laid in both these re-
ports on the need of the United States
conserving its oil resources for its own
people and on the necessity of OBJ
tanning oil supplies in otner fields to
supplement American production.
1t is to be expected that at its
coming session Congress will be ask
ed to take some definite action look
ing TO these ends.
What Inquiries Disclosed.
The Senate manufactures commit
tee submitted it's report the very day
that Congress adjourned-too late, of
course. for\any action. The report OF
the Federal Trade Commission has
been printed in detail only during the
last week.
The report of the Senate committe ee
on manufactures had among its rec
concentrations. the following:
The expectation oS petroleum and
its products should either be prohib-
ited or SO regulated as not to permi,
the export from this country of those
products for which there Is pressing
demand in this country. It is ex.
treme folly to permit our resources
OF crude oil, gasoline and other prod
ucts to be drained out OF this coun-
try and sent abroad while domestic
demand exists sufficient to absorb at
reasonable prices the entire produc-
tion of this country"
Grip on Anne rican Fields.
i He ltpOIl VI llle cueTdI ITdue
Commission shows that large foreign
interests. particularly British and
Dutch. own and operate vast oil prop
critics in this country. and that these
same foreign interests have oil prop
critics, developed and undeveloped, in
many parts OF the world.
The trade commission points out
that one Of the results of the world
war was the awakening of q spirit
of nationalisnl in all the important
countries OF the world. involving
ideas of preservation and ma
tional security. The idea Of national
security Immediately suggested the
Importance, the report said. of con-
serving the natural resources and
raw materials and Of extending hold
ings by acquisitions in other countries.
Due to the demonstrated vital i'm
portance of large supplies of petro-
leum products In the world war" said
the trade commission, for oil-burn-
ing navies. for the merchant marine.
for airplanes and for the transporta-
tion Of army supplies and equipment.
there was q widespread realization
that a nation possessing ample pc
rroleum reserves had a tremendous
advantage over any other nation not
possessing adequate supplies OF Pc
troluem products"
Discriminatex Against United States.
1t appears from the investigation
made by the Federal Trade Commits
sion that Great Britain, France, the
Netherlands, Russia, etc, have not
been slow to lay down restrictions
against the citizens Of the United
States in the matter of developing oil
properties within their territories.
The United States, on the other
hand. up to February, 1920, allowed
foreign capital the same privileges
in the matter of acquiring and de-
Eeloping oil properties in this coun-
try as 1t accorded its own citizens.
But Congress- mt throuph