ABSTRACT
The demands and responsibilities which have devolved on the international oil companies go far beyond the normal concerns of commercial operations. Public and private responsibilities become increasingly intertwined. Oil has made the largest single contribution to that expansion; and the stepped-up consumption of oil has been especially marked among basic industries engaged in production and transport. Tanker tonnage, which was already fully engaged in mid-1956, was obviously inadequate to long-haul the same volume of Middle East oil to Europe around the Cape. Gas and diesel oils for heating were more severely restricted; and gasoline consumption was reduced by rationing devices. In evaluating the potential effectiveness of an oil community, however, it is essential to keep in mind that in contrast to the resources of the Coal and Steel Community, oil reserves are located outside Europe, in an area of political unrest and subject to constant Soviet interference.
