davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-10-05
Review
Continued From Page A-25O

clared him persona non grata.
Mr.. KEENAN, was not in Russia
at the time, so the SovietS did
not get the satisfaction of kick
ing him out. Neither did Sec
rotary OF State Acheson give
them any satisfaction. He sup
ported everything Mr.. KEENAN,
had said. And while he had no
way to make Russia take Mr..
KEENAN, back. the Secretary
pointedly said nothing about
naming a new ambassador to
the exceedingly touchy Soviet
Union.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-10-05
BY EorI H. Voss

Two prominent Americans
with long experience in our de-
tense establishment have made
some pretty harsh comments re-
Gently about confusion" in the
Pentagon. One is Presidential
Candidate Dwight D. Eisen-
hover. former Army Chief Of
Staff and member of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. The other is DR..
Vannevar Bush, head Of the
military'S wartime research pro-
y grams.
There is an obvious difference
in the two mems attitudes to
this confusion" The general
is eager to find political impli-
cations, while DR.. Bush is at
great pains to avoid them. Ike
tries to blame the Democrats for
what he finds wrong, while at
the same time half-heartedly
absolving his friends in the De-
Tense Department. DR.. Bush, on
the other hand, says repeatedly
he intends to attack no one, and
that members of both parties
have been about equally involved
in the development of the laws
and procedures under which our
planning is conducted"
In three significant areas,
however, Gen. Eisenhower's crit
icisms of Pentagon operations
parallel those of DR.. Bush:
l. Both think civilian influ-
ence in the military establish
ment should be increased.
2. Both call for a clearer de-
marcation of lines of authority.
8. Both believe the National
Security Council has not been as
effective as it could be.
Indications are that all Of
these points will be brought be-
fore the SD Congress which
conveneS next January. What
some believe to be a long over
due shakeup in the Defense
establishments organizational
Setup may be at hand.
Biportison Commission
Gen. Eisenhower's plans for
increasing civilian influence
were outlined in his speech at
Baltimore recently. He proposes
selection of bipartisan civilian
commission next January to re-
vamp the Defense Department.
He also wants more civilians to
be full-time planners on the Ma
tional Security Council. and
more civilians to aid in weapons
development.
DR.. Bush. speaking in
Rochester, Mimi, remarked
that the Joint Chiefs of Staff
need but do not seek or get
competent. disinterested profess
sional advice in science, BUSH
ness or human relations.
AS for lines of authority, DR..
Bush observes that "the control
by the civilian secretaries is to
some extent circumvented be-
cause of the dual role-com-
mand and advisory-of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. DR.. Bush also
charged that the jos dips into
matters it should avoid" To
eliminate this Confusion" DR..
Bush recommends that the jos
be taken out of the line Of
command and made strictly adj
visory to the Defense Secretary:
that all orders be transmitted
to the commanders of the Army,
Navy and Air Force through
the civilian secretaries, and that
overseas commanders be APP
pointed by and responsible to
the President and the Defense
Secretary. DR.. Bush also thinks
it would be better to discontinue
the practice of allowing one
man to serve not only on the
jos but also as Chief of Staff
for his branch Of service. He
Evening star., 1952-07-27
BY Richord Rodgers

Dayton, Ohio. for instance, has lost
10000 elms, Mr.. Harding said. The
States Of New York and New Jersey
have suffered terrible tolls. The fun
gus preys only on elms. leaving other
trees alone, which is no more than
fair. inasmuch as the others have
their own problems.
For years tree tenders here have
watched and waited for the appear
ance Of Scolytus Multistriatus.
That's the dictionary term for the
little blighter that spreads the fun
gus. It Is a beetle, about the size
of large flea. He lives In the fun
gus in a sick tree. When the tree
dies the varmint takes up tenancy
in a healthy elm and infects it.
In 1947 a stately elm at the Lin
coin Memorial came down with the
disease. It died, the sole fatality
that first year. The next year,
though, Is elms perished. In 1949,
there were 35 of them killed. In
1850. the count went up to 102, and
last year 470.
So far this year, 209 new cases
have been reported. Tree men are
confident there won't be more than
Evening star., 1952-07-27

black, spreads around the trunks and
chokeS the trees to death.
Also oak wilt. The Middle West
has been having lot of trouble with
that and, said Horace v. Wester. plant
pathologist for the National Capital
Parks, oak wilt has moved steadily
toward Washington until now 1t has
reached a place in Pennsylvania only
80 miles away. It'll get here eventual
ly, the tree men report glumly.
Dutch elm disease, although it may
always be with us, won't make major
inroadS as long as tree surgeons have
their eyes and hatchets and DDT
sprayers on it, the experts say. Forty
park men are prowling the District
now, hunting it down when they
should be about other duties.
When that seven-man task force
takes over, the others can go back
to business as usual. All this, of
course, is preSuming that the Com
missioners will approve the appro-
priation. Mr.. Harding sees no great
problem on that point.
He says it's a matter of simple
arithmetic. The choice is between
$25.000 insurance now. or a really
whopping chopping bill one of these
days.
Evening star., 1952-07-27

were produced in the United States
where costs average as high as 50
barrel. AS the large independents
are all in the United States, no one
can effectively undercut the Big
Seven price overseas.
Joint action of the Big Seven be-
came obvious after Iran scrapped the
concession Of the Anglo-Iranian Oil
Company in 1851. There was no
scramble for Anglo-Iranian's old
customers. Nor was there a scramble
to pick up the broken pieces Of the
Iran concession. Instead, the Big
Seven commissioned a single COM
pany. a subsidiary Of Royal Dutch
Shell, to supply all of the old Gus
toners. and no one tried to deal for
1ranian oil.
Shortage. but No Price Roiss
The sudden $50 oO-barrel-a-day
shortage was neatly made up without
raising the price Of oil q nickel any,
where In the world.
The question arises, what's wrong
with strong group Of oil men DOM
mating or even controlling overseas
oil production and sales? The Brit
Evening star., 1952-07-27

There was q little piece In the
papers here last week about a $25,-
600 bill for surgery that hasn't been
performed yet. The surgeons use
saws. not scalpels, and hack away
the limbs Of woody patients, not
citizens. They're tree surgeons, and
that $25, 900 Is insurance against hav-
ing to pay a bill that could amount
to millions Of dollars.
The patients are the Districts a.
600 elm trees.
Dutch elm disease is the ailment
that has stirred this uproar for pre-
ventive medicine. Since 1947, when
the affliction first struck Washing
tons arboreal population, it has
grown annually worse. Last year it
killed 470 elms. The burial fees were
enormous, but. compared to what the
cost could be, we got of lucky.
Last week the Commissioners an
nounced that the tree experts of Ma
tional Capital Parks had asked for
$25. 900 to hire five tree surgeons and
two laborers whose efforts would be
devoted solely to chasing down Dutch
elm disease.
That seems a good deal of money.
But George w. Harding, boss horti-
culturist Of the National Capital
Evening star., 1952-07-27

ish don't think there's much wrong.
In fact. they feel the situation has
its advantages. But Senator Hen
nings, several Congressional Com
mittees and independent oilmen here
feel there is plenty wrong.
First, cartels go contrary to the
American philosophy of competition.
We have trust-busting laws here, but
they specifically exempt international
cartels. Still. a monopoly is thought to
be harmful no matter where it is. If
competition is most efficient in the
long run here, it should also be best
In international trade.
And there are more practical con-
siderations. There have. been charges
that the Big Seven controls prices in
the United States. Senator Hennings
believes the cartel may affect domeS-
tic prices indirectly.
American independents charge that
the five big American companies
could, and are planning to, cut back
American production by importing
cheaper Caribbean oil. Imported oil
has already cut Texas production
despite the war. Senator Hennings
fears that II development Of our wells
Evening star., 1952-07-27
.Hokkuido
u. S. Leaders View 1t
As Possible War Front
Bv chorIes A. McAIeer

(The uriter recently returned to
The EUening Star stat after II
months in the Army, including IS
of them In Korea and Japan. He
spent three months In HokkGido.J
Senator Douglas assertion at the
Democratic convention that Japan
might have been placed between the
upper and lower jaws Of COM
muniSm" had it not been for this
country's Intervention in Korea once
more has pointed up the Kremltn
threat to Japan, particularly the
northernmost island Of Hokkaido.
The senior Senator from Illinois
said Japan could not have continued
as free, democratic and non-Com-
munist country if United States
forces had not entered the Korean
conflict. Sooner or later. he said.
Japan would have been forced into
the Communist orbit and Russia
would have taken over :"
The Senator's comments have CIV
en- added emphasis to recent reports
that Russian warships and planes
were conducting maneuverS off the
eastern tip of Hokkaido. Those
reports confirmed warnings by top
ranking military leaders from this
country who described Hokkaido as
Japan's "last frontier" One such
warning was sounded by William j.
Sebald, the United States first post
World War II diplomatic representa-
81 tive to Japan, upon his return home
last March. Hokkaido, he said, is
virtually surrounded by advance
outposts of Soviet power"
Ambassador Sebalds concern was
shared by the Army's top generals
of the Far East, including the COM
mander of the hardened United
States 1st Cavalry Division. which is
stationed on the island at the pres
ent time. When the cavalry troopers
moved to Hokkaido in December
after some II months Of combat in
Korea, Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Har-
rold said, eve feel we are as much
on the front line here as we ever
were in Korea"
Gen. Ridgway, In a visit to the
snow-covered island some six weeks
later said, "If the Communists are
to hit Japan, they'll hit here first"
Only Three Miles
Only 8 miles separate Hokkaido
from the Red-held Habomai islands.
It's less than IL miles to Kunashiri.
southernmost of the Kurile Islands,
also held by the Russians. And to
the north lies Sakhalin, just 80 miles
from the northern tip of Hokkaido.
It's here that Russian forces are
reported to be concentrated in great
numbers. To make matters worse.
little more than 200 miles separate
the island from the coast Of Siberia.
Hokkaido is relatively sparsely-
settled island which has about one
fourth Of all Of Japan's land area
but has only a. million Of its "a
million inhabitants. One reason for
Evening star., 1952-07-27
900 Cure for Districts Enns Is Merely Insurance

Parks, has some impressive facts
about the cost Of leafy obsequies
after an epidemic.
Most Of the elms in the District are
giant critters. Removing one big elm
can cost a couple hundred dollars.
This doesn't take into account the
aesthetic damage, nor the suffering
of tree-lovers in Washington, the
most pro-tree city in the world. (paris
is the only close competitor, and
Washington has more trees per acre
than the French. capital0
When you whack down a deceased
elm Of even moderate stature, the job
costs about $50. Most of our elms
being big, the chopping bills are pro-
portionately higher.
1919 Stowowoy
Dutch elm disease came into the
United States as a stowaway in 1919.
1t was hidden in load Of elm logs
from the Netherlands, thus the
Dutch" in its name.
It is fungus that can kill an elm
In three months. The fungus gets in
its lckS during the summer. Ninety
days or so after it starts on an elm
the tree is goner unless its diseased
members are amputated In time.
Evening star., 1952-07-27
Are Those international Oil Borons Menace or Boon?%

Is curtailed, the United States would
be in bad way in case of world
war. There is evidence, however,
that the five American companies are
willing to sacrifice development of
American production so they can
make hay while the sun shines over
seas.
Political Power
Another mark against the Big
Seven is that it has acquired immense
political power. Anglo-Iranian, for
instance, is owned. principally by the
British government. Backed by the
weight of Great Britain, the Big
Seven frequently finds itself more
powerful than the small governments
it deals with.
Senator Hennings feels some Amer
ican officials may also be sympathetic
with the Big Seven. Company off,
cials have been hired as experts by the
State and Defense Departments and
the Petroleum Administration for De-
fense. After working for Uncle Sam,
the experts go back to the big oil COM
panies. The Senator feels these oil
men should not be in policy-making
positions in the Government.
Considerations of world politics
probably are keeping the FTC report
secret. It might prove embarrassing
to Britain and possibly to some
American officials. There were indi-
cations that most concern was over
feelings abroad, however, when the
President said he would let a grand
jury study the secret report. He COM
mented that grand jury findings
wouldn't have the same effect on
foreign relations as would publication
Of an official Government report.
Europeans Satisfied
Europeans, on the other hand,
don't see what all the fuss is about.
Cartels are accepted there. They
feel an oil cartel is logical and de-
sirable. They say it takes a mammoth
company or cartel to handle the COM
plexities Of the international oil trade
and the international intrigueS that
go with it. The cartel, it is said. merely
brought stability into the industry
and insured a steady flow of oil. If
the companies profit thereby, so much
the better.
The problem Of the cartel boils
down to this: Should there be free
competition in the worldwide oil
industry or should there be regula-
ton? If regulation is desirable, should
it come from within the industry or
from q government?
Senator Hennings would answer
that there should be free competition.
regulated. If necessary, by govern
ment. The Big Seven would say that
regulation Is best, but that regula-
ton may as well come, as it does.
from within the industry.
Unanswered, however. Is this ques-
ton: What could the American Gov
ernment do to regulate foreign
monopoly even If it were found to
hurt American interests? Senator
Hennings says he is going to find out.
Evening star., 1952-07-27
By Richord FrykIund

For many years observers have been
convinced that there exists a multi
billion dollar cartel which controls
almost every barrel of oil bought and
sold in the world outside Of the United
States. They say this cartel has
more power in international politics
than most sovereign countries.
No one, however. has been able to
prove beyond a shadow Of doubt that
the monster combine exists or that
the oil moguls have the power they
seem to have. That Is, no one was
able to prove it until recently.
Now it seems likely that a secret
report lying in a Federal Trade Com
mission safe has that long sought
proof. Senator Hennings. Democrat,
Of Missouri. believes the report con-
tains the secret agreements which
have held the cartel together. and
he has started a fight to open the
report to the world.
Powerful Squeeze
Senator Hennings said his own
study Of available evidence has
shown that the international cartel
not only is in the saddle overseas,
but also is putting q powerful squeeze
on the American oil industry, forcing
drastic cuts in United States oil pro-
duction and putting independents out
of business.
The cartel. he said, apparently
skinned Uncle Sam out Of millions of
dollars in emergency oil purchases
during the war and in Marshall Plan
transactions. He demanded that the
suppressed report be made public and
that Congress investigate the entire
worldwide oil setup.
The general structure Of the cartel
has been described many times both
here and abroad. and several Con-
greSSional Committees have inveSti-
gated phases of its activities.
There are no international laws
against cartels. and in Europe they
are considered to be quite respectable;
therefore there has been little at
tempt to conceal the broad opera
tions Of the group. What have re-
mained secret, however. are the
agreements-f any-between the
operators to divide up markets, fix
prices and control production. With
out such agreements q cartel could
not be effective.
Seven Companies
Here is the generally accepted pic
ture of the oil cartel: Seven oil COM
panies have gained control of all but
a negligible amount Of the oil pro-
duced outside America. Most of their
fields are in the Middle East and
in Venezuela, and they contain far
more oil than do American fields.
Five Of the companies are Ameri-
can: Standard Oil of New Jersey.
Standard Oil Of California. the Texas
Company. Socony- Vacuum and Gulf
Oil. Two are British: Anglo -Iranian
Oil Company and the Royal Dutch
Shell Company. All are connected
through q chain Of interlocking
Evening star., 1952-07-27
1t Remains to Be Seen Whether the Reds Will Get Far in Iran

The thing the West has been hop
ing wouldn't happen-and the thing
that Premier MoSSadegh used to as
sure us never would-happened last
week in Iran. The Communist Tudeh
party joined united front" with
some Of the u1tranationalists who
back DR.. Mossadegh.
That was the most ominouS news
from Teheran last week. But the Pc
riod was loaded with grim develop
ments, especially for Great Britain:
/. Hope for early settlement of the
year-long Anglo-Iranian oil dispute
suffered a new setback when Mossa-
degh was returned to power. In the
British view, Mossadegh, who has
risked national ruin with the ardent
backing of large ultranationaliS
groups, symbolizes the hopelessness OF
the Anglo -Iranian oil wrangle. Mossa-
degh limited about q new try at rec
onciliation, but this was not greeted
with any noticeable optimism In
Britain. ~
2. The World Court, which was re-
uuested by the British to consider tho
oil impaSse, decided this was an In
ternal problem. as DR.. MosSadegh
had argued.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party
in Iran got bid from the powerful
Moslem ultranationalist. Ayatollah
Kashani, to organize joint cam
paign against "imperialist coloniza-
tion of Iran," presumably in recogni-
ton Of Tudeh aid in the riots that
unseated Qavam. Mossadegh con-
ferred with Red leaders Friday.
Differences Remain
There are still significant differ
ences between the Communists and
the ultranationalists- those
concerning foreign interference in In
ternal affairs and the attitude to-
ward the Shah. But the Reds now
march with the ultranationaliSts.
They are already influencing some Of
Mossadegh's National Front hackers,
chiefly increasing anti-American bias.
Since Mossadegh kicked the British
out, and his country's oil proceeds
with them, Iran has been going down.
hill financially. The country Is not
self-sufficient. It needs foreign ex-
change, most Of which used to come
from Anglo-Iranian Oil Company op-
Grafton. With the refineries shut
down for lack Of operating person.
mel, Iran has run through its for
.eign exchange and gold reserves.
Meanwhile. the government has
made little progress In economizing.
Evening star., 1952-07-27

ownership Of the major foreign oil
field concessions: although Jersey
Standards president. Eugene Hol-
man. says he knows Of no cartel"
involved.
They gained power by buying mo-
nopolies in the oil-soaked countries
Of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia.
Venezuela and others. and by buying
or leasing almost all Of the ocean,
going tankers in the world. Inde-
pendents cannot compete. The source
Of oil and the means of transporta-
ton are tied up by the Big Seven.
The seven giants show no signs Of
competing with each other. Markets
are divided up. and the companies
don't poach on each others custom
ers. They all quote the same prices
prices set through an ingenious "bas-
ing point" system. The price Of oil
anywhere in the world. no matter
where it came from. is based on
the price Of Oil at the Gulf of Mexico
plus transportation.
The system gives the companies q
neat profit. Oil can be produced for
as little as 10 cents a barrel in the
Middle East, but 1t Is sold as If it
Evening star., 1952-07-27

Reds in the past. Broadly speaking.
he has followed the traditional Per-
sian policy of playing off one for
eign power against another, thus
avoiding undue influence by either.
He and his countrymen know that
the Communists get their orders from
Moscow. And presumably all Iranians
shudder at the thought of Soviet
domination. It was only few weeks
ago that the Communist Tudeh party
leaders were using the slogan Down
with Mossadegh."
But the high-tension, emotion
packed game that MoSsadegh plays
could get out of hand. And If Mos
sadegh were to find himself some
day beholden to the Communists.
there probably would be sharp re-
action from America.
Strategic importance
Iran, Of course. is the pivot Of the
Near East. Besides having strate-
gically important oil. it has strategi-
cally important position. It lies
astride the historic crossroads of the
Asiatic and European conquerors. II
the Soviet Union we're to make drive
for the Suez or the Mediterranean. it
probably would come through Iran
instead of through the rugged Turk
ish mountains, defended as they
would be by Turkeys stout army.
Americas present policy toward
Iran is simple and well publicized.
We want the country to remain COM
pletely independent. We have gone
out Of our way to cut any strings
that Mossadegh may think are at
tached to our military and economic
aid.
American Embassy reports from
Teheran don't have the urgent tone
that some Of the news stories out
Of Iran have had. And some United
States officials would not be sur
prised to learn that, after the smoke
clears, it turns out to be the Com
munists, not the Mossadegh ultra
nationalists. who had been used" in
Iran.
Mossadegh's new chief Of police.
Brig. Shiebani, limited as much in a
speech last Wednesday in Teheran.
He warned his "compatriotS"
"As you have noticed. some foreign
agents have already changed their
masks and mixed with the national
lists. You must be careful about them.
You must be fully aware of the fact
that these people are actually fur
thering their own vile plans"
Evening star., 1952-07-27

another 100 before the end Of 1852.
This is the first time there has been
a decrease from the preceding year.
Mr.. Harding, his associates in the
National Capital Parks, and the Dis
trict Trees and Parking Division
think they have Dutch elm disease
under control-or will have If they
get their $4,000 worth of surgeons
and pruners.
Dutch elm disease can be arrested
in a tree by spraying with DDT
(Which kills the beetleS) or by timely
removal of diseased limbs.
AS matters now stand, all hands
available are fighting Dutch elm dis
ease, but these same hands are also
supposed to work at the other tree
jobs that never end.
The men the $4,000 will pay for
can handle the routine work against
Dutch elm disease while others get
on with different tasks.
Other Problems
The other tasks-although not as
tnsistent as the job of slugging away
at Scolytus Multistriatus-are still
big. There are several other elm di-
seaseS and there's the canker stain
on the Sycamores. It turns them