Evening star., 1923-02-13
q|lLAND REPR|SAL
ON gAL|ENS PLANNED
ationaIs of Countries Deny
ing U. S. Reciprocity May
q Be Barred Here.
FALL TO HOLD HEARING
British and Royal Dutch-Shell
Group Are Principal
Transgressors.
FALL TO HOLD HEARING
BIZ DAVID LAWRENCE.

magnates. principally British. how
ever. from enjoying an equal oppor-
tunity in American oil fields, while
tl{dkhselves working constantly to
prevent American oil companies from
obtaining equal privileges III other
parts OF the world. have been taken
partment, operating under existing
laws and discretionary powers.
Mr.. Fall has served notice on the
Royal Dutch Shell group and their
subsidiary companies in America to
appear before the Interior Department
February %, and has asked the Fed
eral Trade Commission to sit with
him in the hearings. which are TO de-
termlne whether the foreign com
Americans.
Climax OF Controversy.
This is the climax of the contro-
versy which has been going on ever
since the war to protect American
rights and to safeguard for the
United States not only its own sup
ply but sources of supply in other
parts OF the world on which Amer
lea some day may find itself de-
pendent.
The Department OF State has been
wa4ins a diplomatic battle for
months to secure equal opportunity
for American oil interests in various
parts Of the world, and has been par
ticularly checked in trying to per-
Suade the government OF Holland to
remove barriers in Dutch colonies
whore the Royal Dutch-Shell group
naturally has been endeavoring to
keep out competitors, including
Americans The inundated regions
specified by the treaty OF Versailles.
especially Mesopotamia. have come in
for numerous discussions. The gov
ernments OF Great Britain and the
agreements pertaining to oil de-
velopment In India and the Dutch
East indies, and altogether the
scramble for nonopolistic control has
given the American government a
good deal Of concern.
Gives Detailed Information.
The United States Senate passed a
resolution asking for information
corporations on American territory.
Tho Federal Trade Commission, in an
swering the request, has given de-
tailed information showing that the
Shell Union Oil Company of Delaware
controls about 240,s50 acres of oil
lands. 752 miles of trunk pipe lines.
hye refineries and about 3.5 per cent
OF the American output.
Shall these foreign comma nieS a
permitted to operate on American
public lands and on Indian lands
That Is the question which the In
terror Department is trying to an
swer. Congress in 1920 amended the
mineral-leasing laws for public lands,
forbidding the acquisition OF proper
ties by the nationals Of any foreign
country that denies reciprocity to
Americans. What shall be done on
Indian lands is n discretionary mat
terror.
VIII SIT Up and Notice.
In other words, there is sufficient
leverage to make the foreign oil
companies sit up and take notice.
VIII they influence their own gov
ernments to extend reciprocity to
American oil interests? The whole
though the British government is
said to have sold its shares in the
Royal Dutch-shell group. the affinity
between the present owners and the
British government Is very close in
deed. Great Britain, accoriing to
an announcement in parliament, owns
$500. 10000 OF shares in the An
gio-Persian Oil Company. which
has ambitious plans in Asia Minor.
The Royal Dutch-Shell Company Is
said to be the largest oil combina-
hold OF SO per cent on the total area
of oil-producing lands on the earth 8
surface.
Britain and Turkey Dispute.
There's trouble between Great
Britain and Turkey over the Asia
Minor oil fields and concessions. The
French similarly have oil possessions
I'm the near east. The oil supply in
tho United States is considered by
experts to be of limited duration, and
there has been a considerable con-
troversy for the last two years as
70 how Mexico will be able to keep
on producing OIL
Secretary Hoover has been urging
American men to seek other oil fields and
develop them as a matter Of national
patriotism. He has suggested that
they pool together and buy potentiaI
'hl resources in Central and South
Amerio. but in no case has the
United States, even on the basis OF
It's close friendship with nefehboring 2
countries. adopted any policy which
tnterfered In the slightest with the
freedom OF opportunity OF EuropeaI,
governments or their nationals.
Reciprocity Demand stronx.
That's why the demand for r.of-
proctty is growing stronger in gov
eminent circles every day. Mr.. Falls
move has the backing Of tho admins
trAtion and OF a large number OF
members OF Congress who feel that
American oil resources, first of all.
should be developed by Americans
for Americans and that IL foreign
companies DO come Into the western
oil delds they shall themselves be
1ree from any record Of discrimina-
tfon In other parts OF the world
where American oil men have sought
70 develop their legitimate business.
Copyright, 1881
Women Demand