The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-02-27

~AN oil sanctions stop the War!
The answer seems to be
yes If the League can sue
coed in cutting off all oil ship
ments to Italy. Estimates Of the ex-
perts recently assigned by the League
of Nations TO make a survey Of the
situation indicate that six or seven
months of a complete oil embargo
would bring II Duce to cease his oper-
atoms in Ethiopia.
Many qualifying factors may alter the
situation. As a matter of fact, the
longer the League of Nations ponders
the ACCESSIBILITY of applying oil sane
tions-the longer the delay-the longer
Italy will be able to hold out after
sanctions begin TO be enforced. For
she is reported to be storing oil at
rapidly-increasing rate; the way in
which American oil shipments TO Italy
have more than doubled normal pro-
portions is an indication of what is
happening between Italy and other
nations. Even Rumania, one of the
staunchest supporters of the sanctions
idea, is increasing her petrol shipments
to Italy.
Normally, Italy uses 100000 tons
of oil annually. With the war oper-
atoms now going forward in Ethiopia,
she now is burning it up at the rate of
100000 tons. OF her normal impor-
tations of 100000 tons annually, Ru-
mania furnishes about 35 per cent,
controlled by Great Brittany II per
cent, Latin-American sources talso con-
trolled by Great Britain to a large ex-
tent IA per cent, the United States
TO per cent and all other sources Z per
cent.
During the past year, when Italy
imported 2,5O0.0O0 tons, Rumanian
shipments leaped to Al per cent of the
total; Russia shipped 16 per cent.
Persia 10 per cent. Latin America.
10 per cent, the United States e per
cent and other sources per cent.
Because of the delay in the applica-
ton of oil sanctions, it is believed that
Italy can go along through the rainy
season and pick up her military opera
tons in autumn.
The temporary let-down in fighting
will make possible the saving Of con-
siderable oil, and will thus stretch out
the period of Italy's "reprieye" a few
more months. How long after that
time Mussolini can keep going depends
upon his success In securing fresh sup
plies.
The answer to this lies largely with
the nations who are not members of
| the League. The United States has
not yet made up its mind whether its
new neutrality act will contain the
provision that exports TO belligerent
nations must not exceed their normal
| proportions. One of the things hold
| ing up the League embargo, of course,
| Is the fact that member nations are
waiting until it can be determined
what kind of action will be taken by
| the non-member nations.
Face Loss of Trade.
IL Italy can keep buying oil from
non-member nations, the members will
| face the possibility of losing good
I SNARE OIL their OIL a lOuS
| time TO come, If not permanently.
| Some of them are trying TO console
themselves into thinking that immedi-
ate losses will not be very important
| because a settlement may be effected
within the next few months.
Italy Is attempting to ameliorate its
own situation through the adoption of
substitutes for oil. and the building
! of new factories. installation of trans
formers, and similar preparations are
well under way. The process. even
| when ii gets moving well. Is a costly
1 one, however. and it is doubtful wheth-
er Italy's solution TO the problem of
oil sanctions lies in that direction.
Some estimates place the total annual
saving in oil by that means could be
only about 10000 tons at the most
Besides this, alcohol and benZfne are
| used in the manufacture of substitutes
They are also used in the manufacture
| of explosives, and If the need for both