University of Virginia Library

US Interested

Even before the oil investment
law was signed, sixteen American
oil companies had expressed
interest in bidding, along with
several other foreign companies.
Since December 12 more U.S. oil
companies have expressed interest
to the Vietnamese government.

The American companies are
"not enthusiastic" about Vietnam's
still unsteady political climate and
security situation, according to one
American official here.

The U.S. mission here has not
been as concerned about oil
concessions as the Thieu regime,
according to one U.S. source. "To
us, it is only one of a dozen
investment possibilities and it is
much more risky than the others,"