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United States Foreign Policy And Mesopotamian Oil 1923-1928, Robert Francaviglia

History Theses & Dissertations

This thesis views the efforts of American oil interests to participate in the exploitation of Middle East oil resources in the 192Os as a point of departure in United States foreign policy. In its opposition to official involvement in the affairs of private business, the United States Government insisted that American oil companies negotiate directly with the British Government­ dominated companies which controlled the Near and Middle East. By placing the execution of its international oil policy under the control of private industry, the United States Government surrendered its capacity to conduct diplomacy with regard to a vital strategic resource. …