Evening star., 1941-08-30
Tighter Curbs
On Oil Exports
ToJapanStudied
New Interpretation
Of 'Pre-Wur' Amounts
Would Be Busis
BY LLOYD LEHRBAS,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.

A further tightening of restric-
tions on petroleum shipments to
Japan is under study by export con-
troll authorities, it was learned in in
formed quarters today, despite jap
anese overtures designed to achieve
a peaceful solution of the critical
situation in the Far East
Oil has been responsible in part
for the strained relations between
the United States and Japan. The
tense situation eliminated in Jap
anese representations to Washing
ton and Moscow against American
oil exports to Russia at time when
shipments of high-grade oil and
gasoline to Japan have been en-
bargoed and all other petroleum
products placed under strict
licensing system.
Decision Awaits Outcome of Talks.
Pending the outcome of talks to be
held by President Roosevelt. Secre-
tary of State Hull and Admiral
Kichisaburo Nomura, the Japanese
Ambassador, however, officials indi-
Gated that no final decisions would
be made on the export control ad-
ministrative measures under con-
sideration.
The Roosevelt lt-Hull-Nomura con-
ferences are expected as a result of
a personal message from Prince
Fumimaro Konoye, the japanese
Premier. to the President.
Mr. Hull emphasized at his press
conference today that the discus
sions in progress were purely ex-
ploratory
The talks held-and to be held
he explained, have not reached the
negotiation stage.
servations in reply to questions con-
corning the scope of the conversa-
tions and in reply to foreign reports
limiting that an agreement of some
kind already had been reached.
Not a New Regulation.
Officials explained that the pro-
posed Tightening of oil export re-
strictions was not new regulation,
but revolved around the interpreta-
ton of President Roosevelt's order
placing all petroleum exports on
quota basis and limiting the issu-
ance of licenses to usual or pre-war
quantities"
When the order was issued August
2 it was authoritatively reported
that 'pre-war" meant before the
invasion of China in July, 1887, but
it was learned in informed quarters
today that export control authorities
were considering setting the quotas
on exports made before Japan's in
vasion of China Manchurian prov
inCeS (Manchukuo) in 1881, which
would drastically reduce the amounts
permitted to be exported
In 1886. before Japan attacked
China, American petroleum exports
to Japan totaled $28,837 900. of which
approximately half was for crude oil.
il 1881, preceding Japan's occu-
patton Of the Manchurian provinces,
exports of petroleum products to
Japan were 3,603 900 barrels of crude
oil valued at s3,517000. and refined
oils totaling 7,302,0 barrels valued
at $12,820,0O0.
No Oil Shipped Since August 2.
Exports in either 1886 or 1881 were
far less than exports in 1910, which
totaled $54,600,O00, and also were at
considerably lower rate than the
monthly average of oil exports dur
ing the present year-until such
shipments ceased August 2.
Officials said today that no oil
had been shipped to Japan since
assurance of the Presidents new
restriction orders. Two japanese
tankers sailed from West Coast ports
August and 4, after waiting vainly
for oil to be loaded. Another YES
sci, which loaded oil at San Pedro
before the new order, unloaded at
Seattle when it put in there after
the Presidents order was announced.
Japan was considered to be facing
a showdown in her program of ex-
pansion in the Pacific when Presi-
dent Roosevelt embargoed shipments
of aviation fuel and ordered a re-
duction in exports of other petro-
leum products on which Japan has
depended for more than two-thirds
of the gasoline and lubricants needed
by her industries and for her mill
tary machine.