The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-04-16
OIL TRUST ASKS
CAL TO SPEED
SOVIET TREATY
Sinclair Tears Hair Over
Concession
Especial to The Daily wOrker.)

N0ppSldl " lug GaHL WV NN'0
WASHINGTON, April IA OF
course there is nothing to this Japan
ese oil concession, secured from Rus
STA in the Russo-Japanese recognition
treaty, to worry the Coolidge admin
istration. The White House has spent
the week making that perfectly clear.
II Japan has secured a naval oil sup
ply at her own door, and if the Sow
let Union has thereby made itself pop
ular in Japan, and if American pres
tige in the Far East is thereby some
what dimmed, what Of it?
True, the administration is deeply
concerned that American companies
should get as many foreign oil fields
as possible. The race for oil is the
race on which, apparently, depends
the future commercial conquest Of the
world Sinclair had an even better
concession from the Soviets, in Russ
fan Saghalien, than has now been CIV
en- the Japanese. An American COM
pany has a still stronger cinch on an
oil field in China.
Sinclair After Recognition.
Sinclair has until January, 1925
so he contends in a brief filed with
the state department-to make good
his concession in Saghalien. He de-
MES that the recent decision of a
Moscow court that he has forfeited
his privilege by failure to overcome
Japanese refusal to permit him to
bore for oil, is binding. If the admin
istration were to recognize the Soviet
Union, Sinclair might get half of that
Saghalien oil.
Must Recognize Russia.
Sinclair's concealed press bureau
has brought up the fact that Japan is
already indignant because the Amer
lean grand feet is starting maneuvers
off Hawaii. 1t has reminded the pub
lie that Japanese-American relations
were strained by the unfairness Of the
immigration ban, and that only the
gentlest tone on the part of the United
States can avert a serious dispute
with Tokyo. 1t has shown that Am
erican interests threatened by Japan
cannot be protected unless the Wash
ington government either makes
friends with Russia or takes a chance
Of war with the Japanese.
Wilson Monarchist His Lawyer.
Former Secretary Lansing, who now
appears as Sinclair's lawyer, has filed
formal brief and xarious other writ
ten arguments with the state depart
ment. He has been conspicuous as a
friend and entertainer of Russian
monarchist refugees, and hence his
appeal to the department cannot be
tainted with any love for the Soviet
Union. He speaks as business law
yer, for American business interests
that are hungry for profits from oil
fields in the Russian Far East.
Doheny, when trying to get around
the Mexican revolutionary constitu-
ton and save his oil wells in Mexico,
employed McAdoo as his agent Sim
clair, dealing with a reactionary adj
ministration operated by an admirer
of Morgan and Mellon gives a retain
er to Lansing. OF course, Coolidge is
not to be influenced in his hostility to
Soviet Russia. But business is bust
ness especially when it is the oil bust
ness.
Borah Urges Treaty.
Sen. Borah has held secret confer
Bnces with Coolidge and his secretary
Of state, discussing with them the
danger of further delay in recognizing
the Soviet Union, it is reported here.
Borah has, beyond question, been
talking with Coolidge in this subject.
He has pointed out the significance
of Japan's getting a fuel supply for
her navy right at her door, and has
not failed to point out that the immi-
grafton dispute has made it very diff
ficult for Washington to approach
Tokyo in threatening tone just at
present. If Saghalien oil is to be
shared by American companies, the
road to that happy end is thru recog-
milton of Moscow and a business-like
talk with the practical men in the
Soviet government. II is wholly un-
likely that Borah has talked with
Kellogg, who has no power of decis-
ion on policies.
Iurfoa Choo4e caIf