In order that the reader may clearly visualize the situation with regard to the prospects of augmenting home supplies, it is necessary to speak once more of certain foreign fields mentioned in the geographical survey that constituted an earlier chapter. The nearest field and the one to which Americans must naturally look, because for an indefinite period it will continue to produce oil far in excess of the needs of its own people, is Mexico. Unbacked by governmental coöperation in any form, American private enterprise has done much in an endeavour to develop permanent supplies in that country, and has paid its way generously. Fortunately, the internecine warfare which has paralyzed the maintenance of law and order in many parts of that country has been less serious in the oil regions than in some other provinces, but precious lives have been lost, and considerable property destroyed without redress. Still more serious is the fact that in the face of the activities of foreign powers anxious to secure American holdings of great potential value the American Government has been inert in a field where, for geographical reasons alone, it has a claim to first consideration. The patriotism of an American citizen, Mr. E. L. Doheny, controlling owner of the Mexican Petroleum Company, has been more potent than that of the public authorities in safeguarding the future of our interests in that country. Mr. Doheny received a handsome offer from the Royal Dutch Shell Company for his interests; but he refused it on the ground that for the future welfare of the United States, his properties should remain under an American control. Undeniably the lot of the American capitalist in the Mexican oil fields has been rendered so difficult that any man might be tempted to sell to the first bidder. While a recent Mexican administration proposed to “nationalize” petroleum there have been many attacks in other forms upon the rights of American oil companies, but so far these companies have escaped absolute confiscation of their properties. Here is obviously a field in which American interests must have the same sort of diplomatic assistance which Great Britain extends to its nationals if the future is to be secure.