Political and commercial geology and the world's mineral resources
Science
Political and commercial geology and the world's mineral resources
Geology, Economic; Mines and mineral resources
Besides furnishing France with coal, “Germany undertakes to deliver
to Belgium eight million tons of coal annually for ten years;” and
to Italy from four and one-half to eight and one-half million tons
annually; and also to Luxemburg, “a quantity of coal equal to the
pre-war annual consumption of German coal in Luxemburg.”
The prices to be paid for coal under these options shall be as follows:
“(_a_) For overland delivery, including delivery by barge, the German
pithead price to German nationals, plus the freight to French,
Belgian, Italian or Luxemburg frontiers, provided that the pithead
price does not exceed the pithead price of British coal for export.
In the case of Belgian bunker coal, the price shall not exceed the
Dutch bunker price. Railroad and barge tariffs shall not be higher
than the lowest similar rates paid in Germany.
“(_b_) For sea delivery, the German export price f.o.b. German ports,
or the British export price f.o.b. British ports, whichever may be
lower.
“The allied and associated governments interested may demand the
delivery, in place of coal, of metallurgical coke in the proportion
of 3 tons of coke to 4 tons of coal.”
Germany undertakes to deliver to France during each of the three years
following the coming into force of this treaty,
Benzol 35,000 tons
Coal tar 50,000 tons
Sulphate of ammonia 30,000 tons
The price paid for coke and for the articles referred to shall be the
same as the price paid by German nationals under the same conditions of
shipment.
The ownership of the Saar mines is a most welcome addition to the coal
resources of France; and the Saar basin, as it is capable of further
development, may in the future make France more nearly self-sustaining
as regards coal production.
The requirement of furnishing coal to France during the rehabilitation
of the French mines wrecked by the Germans is a most equitable
arrangement. Germany at first, owing to the drop in the output of the
Westphalian fields, claimed not to be able to furnish coal, but this
situation will no doubt right itself in time, especially as France
holds the whip hand through control of the iron ores necessary for the
great iron and steel plants of the Rhine district. In the meantime it
is hoped Great Britain, with the assistance of the United States, will
be able to supply the deficiency in the coal requirements.
The problems connected with the Russian coal fields are complicated,
but at least the Dombrova coal field would seem to be in the hands of
the new Poland, and this carries coal resources estimated at 2,525
million tons, with an output before the war probably exceeding 7
million metric tons per annum.
According to the terms of the peace treaty, a plebiscite will determine
the political control of the Upper Silesian coal fields.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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