1914 the _Anglo-Persian_ made a somewhat stormy entrance into history, for up to then very little had been heard of it: the negotiations and then the contract with the Admiralty had been conducted with the greatest secrecy. Parliament showed great surprise when Winston Churchill placed the matter before it, and asked for its sanction to the agreements which had been made. It was even necessary for Sir Edward Grey to come to the rescue in order to win a majority in the House. The Government had a certain majority of two thousand votes by the purchase of £2,200,000 of new ordinary shares. This amount has since been more than doubled, for on March 6, 1921 the Government announced in the House of Commons that it held £5,200,000 ordinary shares, £1,000 preference shares, and £199,000 debentures. Two-thirds of the ordinary shares of the _Anglo-Persian_ are to-day in the hands of the British Government, the other third is held by the _Burmah Oil_, which is directed by the Admiralty. Thus absolute Government control is assured. The _Anglo-Persian_ has become literally a State-directed company, but British officials are wise enough to entrust to technical experts the actual management of the undertaking. This explains its great success. Two trustees, Lord Inchcape and Sir E.H. Packe, represent the Government on the Board of Directors: they have the right of absolute veto upon all decisions. Finally, the Government has made a contract with the _Anglo-Persian_ for the supply of important quantities of oil at an advantageous price for a certain number of years. The needs of the Navy are thus guaranteed for a period of years. There is no surprise to be feared, for the oil-fields are near the Persian Gulf, where Great Britain reigns as mistress, and where no foreign ship can enter without her permission. It is, moreover, an important strategic point; ships can be dispatched from there to all parts of the world where Great Britain has interests--Suez, Gibraltar, India, Australia, Africa.