TITLES AND ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS 109 



It has been noted that the competition of combined commercial interests 

 other than German exists under at least semi-official guidance, and that, for 

 example, the policy of the English in this regard is a very deliberate one. This 

 development is a natural one and we find the same impulse in American 

 thought. 



In some of the mineral commodities it is possible that there will soon develop 

 a world shortage, with resulting sharp competition between the United States 

 and its best friends, such as England and Japan. There is danger in this com- 

 mercial* competition, which easily leads to war. The only reasonable solution 

 would seem to be for the rival houses to amalgamate. The plans' for a league 

 of nations, now under way, may fail on account of the many nations and 

 diverse interests and ideals involved. It is, however, not only feasible, but 

 imperative, that the three nations which stand abreast in the forefront of 

 civilization should amalgamate and agree on a firm central policy looking for- 

 ward toward reciprocity or free trade, so far as it is fair, among themselves. 

 Treaties will do no good of themselves. Any league to be effective must be 

 bound not only by a central judiciary, but by a central legislative body, execu- 

 tive council, and a central military or police force by land and sea. 



This federation by itself would guarantee the world's peace, and other na- 

 tions would be on probation and would be admitted one by one as they showed 

 themselves desirous and competent. 



Presented by title in the absence of the author. 



MEXICAN PETROLEUM AND THE WAR 

 BY E. W. SHAW 



(Abstract) 



The part played by petroleum and its products in the great war is a subject 

 of general discussion, but there seems to be agreement that this part was very 

 essential both in comparison with other war minerals and in comparison with 

 other elements that contributed toward success. The value of Mexican petro- 

 leum involves peculiar factors, though, like the value of other available oil 

 supplies, it has been controlled mainly by quantity, quality, and accessibility. 



The quantity factor has had the following outstanding features : The actual 

 output of the country was large — roughly, one-tenth as great as the world out- 

 put. Eight years ago the output of the country was scarcely one-twentieth as 

 great as in 1918, and the fraction of the world's output was only about one pei 

 cent. Twenty years ago the fields were undiscovered. On the other hand, the 

 aggregate capacity of the wells already drilled has differed from those of other 

 regions in that it has always been far above the actual output; also If condi- 

 tions of development had been as favorable as they are in some parts of the 

 world there would have been many more wells drilled and a far greater supply 

 of oil would have been available — perhaps twice as much as all the world is 

 now producing. The country has the largest oil wells in the world, and the 

 main part of the output has thus far come from a very few wells. Roughly, 

 half of the output of the country in 1918 was used in connection with the do- 

 mestic and military requirements of the United States, and of the capital 

 invested in Mexican oil nearly two-thirds is American. 



