ABSTRACT
The US National War College is the senior educational institution of the Department of Defence and invites leading authorities to discuss topics of high importance to the security of the United States. Middle Eastern oil has played an important role in the world oil picture since World War I when Iranian oil production was developed, mainly for the use of the British Navy. The British and French governments jointly with private investors have therefore a direct interest in Middle Eastern oil. A short survey of the political and diplomatic background of the various Middle Eastern concessions will further illustrate the peculiar intertwining between commercial and political operations that characterizes Middle Eastern oil and perhaps international oil. The acquisition of concessions by the various British, American, and French companies cannot therefore easily be disassociated from political factors, treaty rights, and other governmental influence, and cannot in fact be judged solely as resulting from the unimpeded competition between private commercial corporations.
