oil interests are powerless to achieve influence and obtain due recognition without the diplomatic assistance and coöperation of their home government. It is necessary, if they are to secure equal rights under international law that will serve not merely as a check upon any possible unfair discrimination, but enable them to secure workable international arrangements. These should redound to the interest of all countries for the United States is the motherland of the science of oil production. The prestige of this country is such that in many cases a mere diplomatic protest would be sufficient to rectify many disabilities under which the American oil company seeking foreign reserves at present labours, without creating serious disputes or international entanglements. In the words of Thomas A. O’Donnell, President of the American Petroleum Institute, with which most of the leading petroleum producing and manufacturing companies of the country are associated: The American oil industry asks only the support of the nation in giving it an equal status, putting it upon an equal footing with the nationals of other countries in the development of the world’s petroleum resources--and it asks this in the interest of the nation. With the Government at their back to secure for them fair play, American oil interests could face the future with confidence, if not with certainty; lacking such coöperation, the future is fraught with hazard to an industry that stands as a monument to American organizing genius. THE END THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK Transcriber’s Note Some inconsistencies in spelling, hyphenation, and punctuation have been retained. This file uses _underscores_ to indicate italic text. Small capitals changed to all capitals. p. xv: changed “Rumania” to “Roumania” (Moreni Field, Roumania) p. 50: changed “Egpyt” to “Egypt” (Egypt has also a future) p. 69: changed “fish-tale” to “fish-tail” (the delicate fish-tail bit) p. 74: changed “rythmical” to “rhythmical” (the rhythmical “chug-chug”) p. 83: changed “Samual” to “Samuel” (Samuel Van Syckel of Titusville) On pp. 35, 37, and 57 appears “Edwin Laurencine Drake.” Modern sources differ in spelling (Laurentine). This name was left as originally printed.