OIL CONCESSIONS IN GEORGIA IN THE 20s OF THE 20th CENTURY

Abstract

Today, when Georgia is making efforts to establish a worthy place in the world, to develop its economy, establish close business ties with many countries and attract investors and tourists to the country. In this regard, it is essential, in our opinion, to search and study archival materials about Georgia’s experience in establishing foreign relations in the 1920s. In this article, we would like to specifically consider the problems associated with oil production in Georgia during this historical period by foreign companies.
The well-known aphorism that history is written in blood lost its validity over time. It was replaced by another aphorism, namely, “history is not written in blood, but in oil.” This change took place during the First World War. The then President of France, Clemenceau, demanded the immediate delivery of oil to his country in his letter to the American President Wilson in December 1918 The French President concluded his letter with the following words:
“The gasoline was as vital as blood in the coming battles. A failure in the supply of gasoline would cause the immediate paralysis of our armies. This will compel us to a peace unfavorable to the Allies.”
That was a long time ago. In the meantime, the importance of oil has grown so much that today oil is the decisive factor in waging wars rather than bloodshed. Whoever owns the oil also owns the power.