The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-28
International Cartes
These Days S l.s sEH 5;. E; s0xSaskf


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Thurman Arnold, Henry Wallace
and others in the government have
waged a valiant campaign against
the cartel which, by definition, is an
international combination in res
trafnt OF trade. American partici.
pants OF such cartels have been
pilloried as wicked corporations
sacrificing their country for selfish
greed. Those American corpora.
tons which were associated with
German corporations in cartels
were described in language beftt-
ing only traitors. In fact. the fight
on cartels has been so vindictively
vociferous that the head OF the
Standard Oil Company of New Jer-
sey was driven to an untimely death
by his pursuers.
But now-cartels, yes even cart
els, are being organized under the
aegis of government through inter
national negotiations and agree
ment. No other Interpretation OF
the oil agreement recently signed
in Washington between the United
States and Great Britain is pos
sible. This agreement may or may
not be wise and necessary. but IL
ic nnnnthn1ncg a ta1
same as II is American policy 10
oppose. An international petro-
leum pool is set up with the object
OF g.. assuring the availability Of
adequate petroleum supplies to all
peaceable countries at fair prices
and on non-discriminatory basis,
subject to such collective-security
arrangements as may at any time
be in force; the development OF pc.
troleum resources with a view TO
the sound economic advancement
Of producing countries recognition
Of the principle of equal-opportuni-
ty in the acquisition OF concessions:
respect for valid concession con-
tracts, and freeing the production
and distribution of petroleum from
unnecessary restrictions. This.
in simple English, means that the
oil resources Of the world are sub.
ject to control by various govern
ments with limitations placed upon
competition In the open market
both as TO the purchase and de-
velopment OF oil lands and wells
and sales to the consumer. There
are lots OF trick words and phrases
in this agreement. quote a few:
That such supplies should he
available in accordance with the
principles of the Atlantic Charter
and in order to serve the needs OF
collective security"
Explanation please?
Note these:
81, should be expanded in an
orderly manner on a worldwide
basis. 49," What is an orderly man
ner except restrictions. limitations
with the object Of averting compe-
tition and enforcing a quota sys.
tenn OF sales.
e.. adequate supplies OF petro-
leum shall be available in interna-
tional trade to the nationals OF all
peaceable countries at fair prices
and on a non-discriminatory basis"
Ditto.
THAT the government OF each
country and the nationals thereof
shall respect all valid concession
contracts and lawfully acquired
rights and shall make no effort un-
Materially TO interfere directly or in
directly with such contracts or
rights" which in the Middle East
means the protection of the pre-
war status OF concessionaries and
in the Far East restores the rights
OF the British and the Dutch over
territory which native peoples may
desire for themselves.
wish | could quote Article III
in full but IL ever there were a
cartel agreement, II is this Article
III which calls for exchange OF
Information. Joint policies Of short
and long term operations. | do not
find a single word or phrase which
excludes the vast American oil
fields and oil industry from this
governmentally organized interna-
tional cartel find nothing in
the agreement that protects the
American well-owner. the American
worker or the American consumer
Maybe il is hidden among the ambi
guities but 1t is not in the open.
Similarly something hidden Is
going on about air travel The
United States supports approx
mately 75 per cent OF the air travel
OF this earth. The United States
has built air.helds and well-equip-
ped airdromes all over the earth.
It is only natural that other coun-
tries, particularly less competent