Although the major factors influencing the American attitude on oil shipments to Jepan are undoubtedly diplomatic and military. the economic factors are not unimportant, according to those close fo the problem. It is pointed out that an embargo would cut both ways and that, while it would undoubtedly injure Japan, it would also harm to some degree thousands of Americans who have interests in the oil companies carrying on this trade. A large number of these companies are small and a sudden stoppage of their exports fo Japan would be felt even down to the men who work in their continental American service stations.
The pattern which the United States expects to follow in regard to oil shipments may be foreseen in that followed for a number of Other strategic materials Since early in February no copper has been exported to Japan, while that country no longer finds it possible to buy machine tools, aluminium or iron or steel scrap here. While these objects were placed under export licence control because of America's own national defence needs, if is significant that certain friendly nations, free from Axis domination or taint, are able to buy them in limited quantities.
That Japan is experiencing no difficulty as yet in purchasing American petroleum is seen in Commerce Department figures which show that whereas the United States exported 1,491,000 barrels of petroleum to Japan in January and 1,279000 barrels in February, it exported 1,558,000 barrels in March.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.