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The Name of the Game
is OIL
Big power diplomacy is not so
much interested in Israeli-Arab dis–
putes as it is in Middle East oil. Tbe
industrial centers of Europe and Ja–
pan now draw more than 80 percent
of their petroleum needs from
Middle East and North African
wells, and by 1975, the European
Economic Community expects that
an overwhelming 92 percent of its
Arab control of Middle East oil re–
serves as a weapon to achieve politi–
cal ends, U. S. and European
Community leaders know that ac–
tion must be taken to insure that
this precious "black gold" continues
to fiow unhindered to their interna!
markets in the future. Any complete
or even partial stoppage by oil-rich,
power-hungry nations could lead to
potential economic disaster and to
ominous countermeasures against
these smaller Middle East states. It
ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST TANKERS,
the 372,698 DWT
Nisseki
Maru,
ot Kiire Terminal. locoted in Kogoshimo Boy, Jopan, the terminal is currently
equipped with 12 oil storage tanks to hold petroleum shipped from Middle East.
total requiremeots will originate
from these arid lands.
American markets, up to now,
have not relied heavily upon these
Mediterranean and Persian Gulf
sources. Total oil imports from
this region have normally fiuc–
tuated between three and five
percent of the total U. S. consump–
tion.
But if current predictions hold
true, the United States, with its do–
mestic petroleum stores being rap–
idly depleted, will, by 1980, be
forced to import nearly 50 percent
of its oil requirements, a substantial
por t ion coming from Arabian
sources. And since sorne Arab lead–
ers are actively dealing for joint
PLAIN TRUTH
June
1973
Tokyo
Tanker
Company
would immediately involve the risk
of a global super-powe r con–
frontation between Western nations
and the U.S.S.R.
lntercontinental Crossroads
But the critica! oil picture is only
one part of the total spectrum of
global interest. Beyond the matter
of oil, this historie crossroads is of
vital strategic value. Positioned be–
tween the U.S.S.R. and the huge Af–
rican land mass, also bordering the
Mediterraneao region and indus–
trial Europe as well , the Middle
East represents a choice political
plum for eitber East or West.
Furthermore, the significance of
the city of Jerusalern, considered sa-
cred by three major world religions,
representing half of humanity, can–
not be overemphasized. The 1967
capture of the "Old City" section of
Jerusalem, with its famous Western
(Wailing) Wall was a tremendous
emotional milestone for the Israelis,
religious and nonreligious alike.
But the shrines and holy places of
J erusalem hold t ranscendenta l
meaning for 500 million Moslerns
and over a billion Christians as well .
From the Vatican and other reli-
gious circles, pressure
is
again
mount–
ing to make Jerusalem an interna–
tional
city
without política! distinction.
Prevailing Mood: Skepticism
Time and time again, from both
sides of the política! and emotional
fence, one hears variations of the
same basic tbeme: "Of course Arabs
and Israelis can live together
in
peace. And it would befar better for
both sides
if
we did. But forces
beyond our control seem to keep
peace elusively beyond our grasp."
Few in the Middle East profess
much real hope for the achievement
of a peaceful society in thei r life–
times. The prevailing mood among
officials and common people alike is
one of skepticism and doubt that
política! maneuverings, even by the
global heavyweights, can ever be of
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