British and US intervention in the Venezuelan oil industry : a case study of Anglo-US relations, 1941-1948
This thesis analyses British and US government intervention in the Venezuelan oil industry between the years 1941 and 1948 as a case study of Anglo-US relations. During the Second World War, Britain was entirely reliant on imports for its oil needs and Venezuela became a vital source of supply. Concurrently, US government officials were concerned that their domestic oil reserves would soon be exhausted and they perceived Venezuela as an important future supplier. As such, British and US policy-makers were inclined to intervene when it seemed as though their access to Venezuelan oil was threatened. Such a threat materialised as, during the 1940s, Venezuelan politics became characterised by popular demand for economic reform and dramatic regime change. However, British and US officials came into conflict as they sought to further their independent and often conflicting policies in Venezuela. Indeed, the Anglo-US wartime and Cold War alliance did not preclude disputes from arising between the two governments in matters relating to oil and Latin America. In order to defend their interests in Venezuelan oil, Whitehall and Washington developed intimate ties with privately-owned companies operating in the country.
Seddon, Mark
British and US intervention in the Venezuelan oil industry : a case study of Anglo-US relations, 1941-1948. This thesis analyses British and US government intervention in the Venezuelan oil industry between the years 1941 and 1948 as a case study of Anglo-US relations. During the Second World War, Britain was entirely reliant on imports for its oil needs and Venezuela became a vital source of supply. Concurrently, US government officials were concerned that their domestic oil reserves would soon be exhausted and they perceived Venezuela as an important future supplier. As such, British and US policy-makers were inclined to intervene when it seemed as though their access to Venezuelan oil was threatened. Such a threat materialised as, during the 1940s, Venezuelan politics became characterised by popular demand for economic reform and dramatic regime change. However, British and US officials came into conflict as they sought to further their independent and often conflicting policies in Venezuela. Indeed, the Anglo-US wartime and Cold War alliance did not preclude disputes from arising between the two governments in matters relating to oil and Latin America. In order to defend their interests in Venezuelan oil, Whitehall and Washington developed intimate ties with privately-owned companies operating in the country.
british intervention oil industry case_study anglo relation analysis british_government intervention oil industry case_study anglo relation second_world_war britain entirely reliant import oil need venezuela become vital source supply concurrently government_official concern domestic oil reserve would soon exhaust perceived venezuela important future supplier british_policy makers inclined intervene seem though access oil threaten threat materialise politics become characterised popular demand economic reform dramatic regime change however british_official come conflict sought independent often conflict policy venezuela indeed anglo wartime cold_war alliance preclude dispute arise government matter relate oil latin_america order defend interest oil whitehall washington develop intimate tie privately owned company operate country