856d.6363/17: Telegram

The Minister in the Netherlands (Phillips) to the Secretary of State

271. My 270 October 8, 1 p.m. I have had a [conversation?] with the Dutch representative of the Bataafsche Petroleum Company explaining to him in detail the Department’s position in this matter. He promised to bring the matter to the attention of his colleagues which he has done and now writes me the following note.

“I have had the occasion to bring to the notice of my colleagues the objections raised by the United States Government with reference to the contract which it is in [sic] the intention of the Netherlands Indian Government to close with the Bataafsche Petroleum Company for the working of the oil fields in Djambi.

I regret to say that we cannot see our way to make representations to our Government to alter their policy and to bring in a third party in the proposed case.

We still hope that the United States Government will on further consideration come to the conclusion that as the provisions of the mining law in the Netherlands Indies give foreigners the same rights as Dutch subjects and as this is a single case of a contract made with our company and the Government does not in any way bind itself to give us the further oil territories which are as yet under reservation, there is in reality no discrimination as to the granting of oil concessions in the Netherlands Indies.”

Phillips