Show SOVIET OIL lins HAS EFFECT AT GENOA aein AFFAIRS IN connection WITH ECONOMIC TREATY LIKE AMERICAN BOOM TALK bolshevik and shell companies representatives deny contract made for baku output at meeting genoa no american ot of town had greater oil excitement than gomm genoa has had oer the rumors that various oil agreements have been entered into by tho the bolshevik delegation petroleum is gushing nil all over the genoa conference nothing lias has created such a stir since the germans and russians handed to the surprised confer conference euce their easter treaty baku literally has been moved to genon and azerbaijan has been put ore on the map tor for diplomats who formerly had little idea where that republic on the caspian was located certain distri distracts ets never heard of until this week are being teeing discussed glibly the russian delegation has denied that it has made any contract for the sale of its oil output everybody from M down has denied re r ports of all contracts colonel J W boyle a canadian officer who represents the royal dutch and shell companies here which are reported to have signed contracts with the soviets has issued repeated denials from the sick bed the british government also has denied that contracts have been made with its knowledge but the french correspondents will accept no denials and are describing tile the alleged treachery which is supposed to have given the british control of the caucasian output it was expected that oil would be the greatest prize which the russians could offer at genoa consequently there Is willingness to accept any rumors and the air is full ot them 11 krassin although denying the completion of any sales or development agreements frankly states that he is with oil companies in many mun countries trIes the belgians formerly owned many oil properties in the baku fields and their objection to the genoa conferences plan for dealing with nationalized property in russia belonging to foreigners Is based to a considerable degree on their fear of losing their interests in caucasian oil the standard oil company also had many properties in azerbaijan and americans are arc watching the developments keenly the soviets say gay they are willing to grant concessions for oil development in small sections and are anxious to make the development regional so as not to allow it to be monopolized but there seems to be tin an absence of concession hunters at this time as proa investors are not willing to to take over the property which formerly was operated by other owners until definite arrangements are made tor for soviet recognition and the reimbursement of former owners which would mould lave the rights unclouded colonel boyle about whom the present storm rages was in russia during the war assisting in speeding up lip tr transportation and in recent years has been much in rumania where he has confidence oi of the royal family it was colonel boyle who escorted the russian dowager empress and her laughter daughter from crimea into rumania after the death of the emperor |