The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 30, 1924, Page 13

Oil and International Politics (Continued from page 2) Benson, speaking before the American Petroleum Institute, remarked: “to compete in the world markets with our ships it is necessary to continue the development of oil for the appli- cation of fuel oil to our motive power. It would be useless for us to try ‘to compete with our foreign compe- titors by returning to coal.” At the same time, the geological survey, on May 20, 1920, published statistical memoranda in which it said: “These countries (all other) con- sume at present 2.000,000 barrels a year; at this rate they have reserves for 250 years. The U. S. cogsumes 400 million barrels a year; they have only enough for eighteen years.” Hypothetical statistics of this sort are of course an abomination to the prudent,—but they served the puy- pose of the moment, which was to arouse national emotions, The British Navy, argued the imperialists of the U. S., is sure of its suppNes for oil for a century or more, while the posi- tion of the U. S. is such that it can avoid war only at the price of indus- trial servitude. Accordingly, at the word of com- mand from the U. S. government, “draw- more and more on the oil in foreign countries,” the Standard sent out prospectors all over the world. But everywhere they ran up against an unforseen obstacle. An American prospector had the misfortune to ap- pear on the shores of the Dead Sea in October, 1919. Without hesitation the British general who was governor of Palestine arrested him. The same thing happened in Messopotamia and in many other places. Everywhere in the world, except possibly Canada, Anierican capitalists for two years found the “closed door.” Generally they were either completely excluded from oil bearing concessions in territory, the colonies, or even the sphere of influence of Great Britain, Japan and the Netherlands; or else they were authorized to establish themselves only under such conditions that they would lose the effective con- trol of their undertakings. In face of this situation, the Senate, on March 10, 1920, passed a resolu- tion calling upon the President to fur- nish information as to the discrim- inatory treatment of American oil in- terests in other coufftMes. In reply information was given showing that certain discriminating and some exclusive practices did exist in certain of these countries, to the disadvantage of American interests and efforts. In the midst of this agitation, news: reached the U. S. that France and England concluded the San-Remo Agreement. By it the French govern- ment voluntarily or no associated itself with Great Britain in order to drive out America from the Asiatic centers of petroleum production and delivered over to her the resources which might be discoveed in the zones of influence reserved for France. The French government was so embar- rassed about this agreement that for three months it dared not publish it. This news stirred up the jealousies of the American imperialists, A sharp diplomatic controversy arose. The secretaries of state, from Colby to Hughes, dispatched one note after an- other to the government of Great Brit- ain in which they aserted the princi- ple of the “open door” and equal busi- ness opportunities for the dollar, Standard Oil, and the like. In the years which have ensued, the San Remo Agreement has not been put into effect. In the end America won her point. During the negotia- tions which were conducted in Lon- don at the end of July, 1922, the Am- erican government has been given as- sufances that American oil interests will be given opportunities to partici- poe insofar as,Great Britain and nee are concerned in petroleuum development of Messopotamia, The oil diplomacy of the U. 8. gov- ernment is just as unscrupulous as|_ that of Great Britain. It seizes upon any “principle” or “policy,” logical or not, to fight for the interests of its most powerful oil corporation. Com- pare the American government’s “principle” for Mexico with its “prin- ciple” for Messopotamia. In either case the policy is, indeed, conistent— the policy of promoting American oil interests, but the principles are changed to suit the particular occa- sion, The New York World very ably characterized the diplomacy of Mr. Hughes!” “Show Mr. Hughes an oil well and he will show. you an oil pol- icy." In the struggle between the U. S. and England for oil, the part played by France is by no means negligible, France has never been an oil produc- ing country. This is the reason why she was forced to conclude the San Remo Agreement by which she handed over to the British capitalists an im- portant opening in her colonies which are still almost untouched. But will France be satisfied to remain depen- dent upon England? Events prove that France is develop- ing an oil appetite. Since the war, she has tried desperately to get oil lands, so far with poor results. She concluded an oil agreement with Po- land where 70 per cent of the capital invested in the oil industry is French; she is consolidating her invéstments in Roumania; she is increasing her interests in foreign oil companies; she has made a policy to befriend Turkey. She has furnished her officers to help in training her armies, sold her air- planes and sent engineers to assist in building munition factories. In re- turn France expects concesisons which the Turks have to offer. Oily Conference. So strong did the influence-of oil on politics become, that most of the “in- ternational conferences” went on the rocks mainly because of oil intrigues. The international conferences of 1922 and 1923 are successive proofs that however much diplomats agree to sil- ence oil, if they do not make peace without bribery, oil will not be kept out of diplomacy. The Genoa Conference will be re- garded vy history, not so much as a great effort towards peace than as a Conference of Oil. While the Soviet delegates were discussing the great principles of international morality with the “official representatives” of the powers, scandalous concession hunting was-going on behind the scenes of the conference, ; In the midst of this oily atmos- ‘phere, the hews dropped like a bomb- shell that Krassin had signed a con- tract conferring upon the Royal-Dutch a monopoly of the oil in the Caucasus. This news, tho false, caused a great sensation. Standard Oil set its unoffi- cial machinery in motion. It turned naturally, to the French and Belgians behind the backs of the British. Sim- ultaneously in Paris and Brussels the politicians were warned against his- toric British greed. The delegates at the Conference influenced by the oil interests, could not agree on any terms and the Conference broke up. Soon after the Conference the oil in- terests of the great powers formed an “International Defense Committee” and Royal-Dutch was induced to join up with the little interets in one united family for the common protec- tion of all former oil proprietors in Russia, The four points of this Inter national Defense Committee, to which the oil companies pledged themselves in Paris on September 19, 1922, de- serve to be recorded: 1, “That no member should ac- quire directly or indirectly the con- fiscated properties of other mem- bers. 2. “That the working of oil lands was only possible on the reinstate. ment or compensation of all parties concerned, 8. “That no member should ac eept oil lands belonging to the Rus- sian state as a private concession without the sanction of all other members, 4. “That negotiations with the Soviet government should be con- ducted in common and by represen: tatives unanimously elected.” These four points were soon broken in spirit, if not in letter. A report soon appeared in the press, that an “independent” English firm purchased 80,000 tons of Russian kerosene. This aroused the Shell group, the dictator of the British oil markets, to aggres- sive action. Immediately (April, 1923) one of its subsidiaries, the Asiatic Pe- troleum Company, closed a deal with the Soviet government for 70,000 tons of kerosene with an option on 120,000 tons more, The “Defense Committee” rowhdly accused the Royal-Shell of bad faith. It claimed that if the Royal-Dutch Shell had joined in a general boycott of Russian oil, the Soviet government would have been compelled by “eco- nomic pressure” to restore the oil properties to their former owners, etc. Passions ran high. The egotistical in- terests of the former capitalist own. ers predominated over their common interests. And it turned out that at the Hague Conference, as at Genoa, “the Standard Oil had helped to nul- lify a conference for a petty and im- permanent gain.” The story repeated itself at the fol- lowing conferences supposedly called by the great powers to settle the prob. lems arising from the last war. The, were all oily. At Genoa—we had the question of Baku, at Lausanne—Mo. sul. The cartoons in European news- Papers very aptly expressed popular opinion of the conferences. In one French paper appeared a sketch en- titled “Les appetites.” Diplomats are seated round a table in the center of which lies a large “bidon” of oil, and 1 Amalgamated SUEHAUAANEANENETANATADOAG UGA EGAUEDUEGAT EEA EAD EAA TEE EEN EGUT SED ES AAU THE RUSSIAN WORKERS SUUSSUUEAYESUALEOEGREEEUO UEC ALE HEUAE AGENTS GEE GENERAL HEADQUARTERS 81 East 10th Street, New York, N. Y. THIS IS OUR EMBLEM An Industrial Organization For All Workers in the Food Industry HUUOEHGSRENEOALOUOSGGUSHAANOOUOTAGEEEUOOOUREOEGOOAOOUAUAOOUUAOAEEUEECGSUUOUAGELGOSE EO LUGAGAU AULA U HOO UANG USAGE EEE Second Russian Co-operative Restaurant 760 MILWAUKEE AVENUE Near Ogden Blvd. and Chicago Avenue Phone Monroe 1239 Fresh Food at Reasonable Prices Owned and Controlled by MUSICIANS ATTENTION! Cornetists, flutists, clarinetists, and other wind instruments, also cellists and drummers WANTED By the Young Workers League Orchestra Come and join the only revolutio chestra inm-Chicago. Friday, 8 p. m., hovering over it three horny-fingered hands labeled “Royal Dutch,” “Persian Oil,” and “Standard Oil.” In another paper is a picture: “Sur le lac of Lu- sanne” (On the lake of Lusanne). The lake is a lake of oil, a “bidon” of petrol floating thereon and, above, the flags of nations, France, England, Am- erica, Turkey and Russia. L’Oeuvre displayed a headline—“Europe for the Europeans, and oil for the Ame cans,” Thus we see that oil has become the paramount factor in political econom- ics of the imperialist governments. Oil dominates the diplomacy of Eu- rope and America, It has become per- haps the chief struggle of interna- tional rivalry. This struggle is no longer, as many believe, a question between commercial companies. It is a question of the control of a product “whose possession or lack can modify the always unstable equilibrium of nations.” to get this product, or to keep it, the capitalist governments are ready to bring into play all the economic and military forces that they possess, In the past years, the history of Mexico, Central America, Persia and Messopotamia—proved this truth. In the future, it is more than certain, that the imperialist governments, in their struggle for oil, will be follow- ing their old cut-throat tactics. It ts enough to glance at an oil map of the world in order to know where the battles of the next war will be fought. Send in that Subscription Today. Get a member for the Workers Party. 4 Food Workers ALAA =i i CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY wor class or- Kimball Hall Bidg.