As  contrasted  with  the  strongly  nationalistic  and  deliberately  aggres-
sive governmental  policy  adopted  by  Great  Britain,  France,  Holland  and
some  other  nations,  the  United  States  has  never  adopted  any  policy
founded  on  recognition  of  the  importance  of  political  and  commercial
control  of  petroleum.  American  companies  may  not  own  and  operate
oil  lands  in  the  British  Empire,  in  the  French  possessions,  or  the  Dutch
colonies,  but  the  only  American  restrictions  on  foreign  activity  in  the
petroleum  industry  are  those  which  cover  all  minerals  contained  in  public
lands.  Only  American  citizens,  or  those  who  have  declared  their  inten-
tion of  becoming  American  citizens,  can  apply  for  patents  to  such  land.
However,  after  the  application  is  made,  there  is  no  restriction  on  transfer
of  the  mineral  rights  thus  secured.
