Roxana Petroleum Case

The ruling of Albert B. Fall, former Secretary of the Interior, which would have kept foreign oil interests out of the rich Oklahoma fields, is not to be accepted without a fight. The Roxana Petroleum Company (of the Royal Dutch-Shell group), which, according to Mr. Fall's ruling, could not take over the oil lands of the Creek Indians, are to have their case reviewed by Hubert Work, the present Secretary.

Secretary Fall decided that the 1920 Oil Land Lease Law, whereby "citizens of another country, the laws, customs or regulations of which deny similar privileges to citizens or corporations of this country, shall not by stock control, own any interest in any lease acquired under the provisions of the act," debarred the Roxana Company, 65% of whose stock is foreign owned, from participating in the Creek land leases.

The oil company contended that the land involved in the leases was the property of individuals in the Creek tribe, and that, if the Indians decided that the Roxana Company was acceptable to them, the Secretary of the Interior had no authority to disapprove the deals. Secretary Fall replied that all Indian affairs are under the control of the Department of the Interior, and that therefore his disapproval was valid.

Petition for a reopening of the case will be heard on April 16.