The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-08-30

pare the American governments
principle" for Mexico with its "prin-
ciple" for Messopotamia. In either
case the policy is, indeed, consistent
the policy of promoting American oil
interests, but the principles are
changed to suit the particular occa-
sion. The New York World very ably
characterized the diplomacy of Mr..
Hughes "Show Mr.. Hughes an oil
well and he will show you an oil pol.
ICY"
In the struggle between the u. S.
and England for oil, the part played
by France is by no means negligible.
France has never been an oil produc-
ing country. This is the reason why
she was forced to conclude the San
Reno Agreement by which she handed
over to the British capitalists an i'm.
portant opening in her colonies which
are still almost untouched. But will
France be satisfied to remain depen-
dent upon England?
Events prove that France is develop
ing an oil appetite. Since the war,
she has tried desperately to get oil
lands, so far with poor results. She
concluded an oil agreement with Pc
land where 70 per cent of the capital
invested in the oil industry is French;
she is consolidating her investments
in Roumania; she is increasing her
interests in foreign oil companies; she
has made policy to befriend Turkey.
She has furnished her officers to help
in training her armies, sold her air
planes and sent engineers to assist in
building munition factories. In re-
turn France expects concessions
which the Turks have to offer.
Oily Conference.
So strong did the influence of oil on
politics become, that most of the Gin
ternational conferences" went on the
rocks mainly because of oil intrigues.
The international conferences of 1922
and 1928 are successive proofs that
however much diplomats agree to sill
ence oil, if they do not make peace
without bribery, oil will not be kept
out OF diplomacy.
The Genoa Conference will be re-
garded by history, not so much as a
great effort towards peace than as a
Conference Of Oil While the Soviet
delegates were discussing the great
principles of international morality
with the official representatives" of
the powers, scandalous concession
hunting was going on behind the
scenes of the conference.
In the midst of this oily atmos-
phere, the news dropped like bomb
she'll that Krassin had signed con-
tract comforting upon the Royal-Dutch
a monopoly of the oil in the Caucasus.
This news, tho false, caused a great
sensation. Standard Oil set its unoffi-
cial machinery in motion. It turned
naturally, to the French and Belgians
behind the backs of the British. Sim.
ultaneously in Paris and Brussels the
politicians were warned against his
toric British greed. The delegates at
the Conference influenced by the oil
interests, could not agree on any
terms and the Conference broke up.
Soon after the Conference the oil in
terests of the great powers formed
an international Defense Committee"
and Royal-Dutch was induced to join
up with the little interets in one
united family for the common protec-
ton Of all former oil proprietors in
Russia. The four points of this Inter
national Defense Committee, to which
the oil companies pledged themselves
in Paris on September 10, 1892, de-
serve to be recorded:
1. THAT no member should ac-
quire directly or indirectly the con-
fiscated properties Of other mem.
bers.
2. "That the working of oil lands
was only possible on the reinstate.