756D.94/53: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Foote) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 21—8:50 a.m.]
Referring to my telegrams of August 14, 2 p.m.; and August 17, 9 a.m.40 Further investigation indicates that my report is correct. For example, the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey has 520 wells producing 2,000,000 tons of crude petroleum per annum, hundreds of miles [of] pipe lines, various kinds of refineries, many buildings, much equipment, great number of storage facilities and great quantities of crude and refined products in both Sumatra and Tandjoengoeban. Their capital investment January 1, 1940, was said to have been 165,000,000 guilders. The above data do not include the Standard Oil Company of California and the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company. Orders to destroy remain unchanged although the oil companies are now negotiating with the government in an effort to prevent total destruction of the oil fields. Written report follows.