Evening star., 1941-05-11

Inc 1dte OF one OF INe WOrlQ S great
treasures-the vast oil reserves of Iraq
and perhaps also Iran-is at stake in
the confused struggle that is now taking
place on the Arabian desert. Acutely
conscious Of the importance of oil as an
adjunct of world power, observers here
are following this struggle with concen-
trated interest.
Behind the conflict in Iraq is the COM
plicated story of world oil politics. Ger
many has long wanted to get control of
one of the half dozen major sources of
petroleum. World War No. l was fought
in part for that objective. In World War
No. 2 that is major goal.
Should the Nazis come into possession
of the oil of Iraq, 1t would not bring
any immediate large advantage, since
wrecked pipelines and transporta ton
would be major problems. But undoubt-
edly the Nazis are looking to the long
future when control of this great store
of energy would give them new place
under the sun. This was a part of the
old German dream of the Berlin-to-
Baghdad railway.
On the other hand, loss of the Iraq oil
supply would be an immediate blow to
Britain. Foresightedly the British Ad-
miralty has stored large supplies, but
unless the flow Of oil can be maintained,
the Mediterranean fleet will face grave
fuel problem.
Long Routes Would Be Necessary.
1t would be necessary to transport oil
from the terminus of another pipeline
at Mohammerah with an outlet on the
Gulf of Persia down through the Arabian
Sea and thence through the Red Sea and
the Suez Canal. Already 1t has been sug-
gested that United States tankers might
carry oil to the Red Sea, declared by
President Roosevelt to be outside the
combat zone. But it is doubtful if tanker
capacity, now under severe strain, is
available for so long a haul.
The issue of white domination through
out all of Arabia may be at stake in the
war that has begun in Iraq. For several
years German and italian propaganda
has been at work in an effort to turn
native leaders against the British. In
turn the British have for the most part
backed the puppets of the Hussein dy-
nasty. Whether or not this was wise
remains to be seen. The present pro-
Nazi ruler, Rashid Ali Beg Gallant, is
far from having all the people unified
behind him. The hope OF the British is
that reverses will definitely turn a ma
jority against this German puppet.
An unknown factor is the Sheik Ibn
Saud, who rules over his own state,
Saudi Arabia. Ibn Saud has powerful
influence over all Arabs, kind of spir-
itual leadership over a people who are
fanatically devout Should he turn
against the British, there is the posi-
bility of g fanatical Moslem war with
unforesees BILE consequences in Iran as
we'll as Iraq. From London this week
came a dispatch saying that Ibn Saud
was friendly to Britain. One practical
reason might be the economic difficulties
the powerful Sheik is experiencing be-
cause of the shortage of shipping. In
this department the British can help
him.
Iraq Ninth in Oil Production.
In world oil pfOQucClOn 1rdQ was elgntn
in 1889 and ninth in 1910 with total
production of 24,225,OO0 barrels last year,
according to the best available figures.
Iran stoo1 fourth for those two years
with 7515l 900 barrels. '--
The British own one-haf of the oil
of Iraq through Royal Dutch Shell and
the Anglo-I -Iranian Oil Co., the latter in
reality the British Admiralty. The other
half is held by Socony-Vacuum, Stand
ard of New Jersey and the Societe de
Francaise de Petrole. The properties of
the French firm are now held by the
British alien property custodian. The
great oil wealth OF Iran Is entirely Brit