nytimes article

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

In any case, they point out, it is truly a multinational company, traded on both the New York and London stock exchanges, with British and American nationals on its board of directors.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

Its reputation for reliability and its generous dividends have long made it a favorite of British pension funds.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

Some Britons are irked at President Obama’s seeming determination to refer to the company as “British Petroleum” — even though it jettisoned that name in favor of initials years ago.

“The rest of the world is fed up with the parasitic attitude of the U.S.,” went one representative comment on the Daily Telegraph Web site.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

Its reputation for reliability and its generous dividends have long made it a favorite of British pension funds.

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to criticize the United States, however, saying he sympathized with its “frustration” in dealing with its worst environmental disaster in memory.

Some Britons are irked at President Obama’s seeming determination to refer to the company as “British Petroleum” — even though it jettisoned that name in favor of initials years ago.

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

In that atmosphere, the stream of condemnations from Washington has stirred a protective backlash, even in this closest of American allies.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

“I completely understand the U.S. government’s frustration, because it’s catastrophic for the environment,” he told reporters during a trip to Afghanistan.

Comments on British message boards this week have been full of anger at the United States and disillusionment at Mr. Obama, a wildly popular president here until now.

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

“The rest of the world is fed up with the parasitic attitude of the U.S.,” went one representative comment on the Daily Telegraph Web site.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

The most important thing is to mitigate the effects and get to the root of the problem.”

Even as Mr. Obama has been attacked at home for his mild manner, so has Mr. Cameron, the new prime minister, been criticized here for not standing up more forcefully to the United States as BP’s fortunes have continued to plummet.

It owns a refinery in Texas City, Tex., that is one of the world’s largest, and a 50 percent interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline, in addition to a huge gasoline marketing operation.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

It merged with Amoco, the former Standard Oil of Indiana, in 1998, and about 40 percent of its shares are held by American investors.

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

Iain Armstrong, an analyst at Brewin Dolphin, an investment manager here, said that the situation had become “overpoliticized” and had confused the markets about BP’s actual strength.

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to criticize the United States, however, saying he sympathized with its “frustration” in dealing with its worst environmental disaster in memory.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

The company’s dividend payments accounted for about 13 percent of the dividends handed out by British companies last year, according to FairPensions, a London-based charity.

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to criticize the United States, however, saying he sympathized with its “frustration” in dealing with its worst environmental disaster in memory.

Even as Mr. Obama has been attacked at home for his mild manner, so has Mr. Cameron, the new prime minister, been criticized here for not standing up more forcefully to the United States as BP’s fortunes have continued to plummet.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

“Ironically, by being extremely strong financially, BP has become a target.”

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

At a time when Britain is desperate to reduce its deficit, BP is a huge contributor to British tax revenue, paying nearly $1.4 billion in taxes on its profits last year.

In that atmosphere, the stream of condemnations from Washington has stirred a protective backlash, even in this closest of American allies.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to criticize the United States, however, saying he sympathized with its “frustration” in dealing with its worst environmental disaster in memory.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

In that atmosphere, the stream of condemnations from Washington has stirred a protective backlash, even in this closest of American allies.

In that atmosphere, the stream of condemnations from Washington has stirred a protective backlash, even in this closest of American allies.

Some Britons are irked at President Obama’s seeming determination to refer to the company as “British Petroleum” — even though it jettisoned that name in favor of initials years ago.

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

“I completely understand the U.S. government’s frustration, because it’s catastrophic for the environment,” he told reporters during a trip to Afghanistan.

Boris Johnson, the Conservative mayor of London, said Thursday that he was worried about “anti-British rhetoric” and “name calling” from American politicians.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

Comments on British message boards this week have been full of anger at the United States and disillusionment at Mr. Obama, a wildly popular president here until now.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

It owns a refinery in Texas City, Tex., that is one of the world’s largest, and a 50 percent interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline, in addition to a huge gasoline marketing operation.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

He said he would discuss the situation with Mr. Obama when the two next spoke, in a scheduled telephone call this weekend.

He said he would discuss the situation with Mr. Obama when the two next spoke, in a scheduled telephone call this weekend.

Iain Armstrong, an analyst at Brewin Dolphin, an investment manager here, said that the situation had become “overpoliticized” and had confused the markets about BP’s actual strength.

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

“When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP, it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great British company is being continually beaten up on the airwaves,” Mr. Johnson told BBC radio’s Today program.

The Justice Department did not help matters when it said Wednesday that it was planning to take action to force BP to withhold its next dividend payment.

On Thursday in Washington, the Obama administration tried to play down the diplomatic tensions, saying the issue was purely between a private company and the United States government.

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to criticize the United States, however, saying he sympathized with its “frustration” in dealing with its worst environmental disaster in memory.

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

Comments on British message boards this week have been full of anger at the United States and disillusionment at Mr. Obama, a wildly popular president here until now.

At a time when Britain is desperate to reduce its deficit, BP is a huge contributor to British tax revenue, paying nearly $1.4 billion in taxes on its profits last year.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

Some Britons are irked at President Obama’s seeming determination to refer to the company as “British Petroleum” — even though it jettisoned that name in favor of initials years ago.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

“It’s gotten completely out of hand,” he said.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

“I completely understand the U.S. government’s frustration, because it’s catastrophic for the environment,” he told reporters during a trip to Afghanistan.

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

Boris Johnson, the Conservative mayor of London, said Thursday that he was worried about “anti-British rhetoric” and “name calling” from American politicians.

“The rest of the world is fed up with the parasitic attitude of the U.S.,” went one representative comment on the Daily Telegraph Web site.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

He said he would discuss the situation with Mr. Obama when the two next spoke, in a scheduled telephone call this weekend.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

On Thursday in Washington, the Obama administration tried to play down the diplomatic tensions, saying the issue was purely between a private company and the United States government.

At a time when Britain is desperate to reduce its deficit, BP is a huge contributor to British tax revenue, paying nearly $1.4 billion in taxes on its profits last year.

Iain Armstrong, an analyst at Brewin Dolphin, an investment manager here, said that the situation had become “overpoliticized” and had confused the markets about BP’s actual strength.

BP is the third largest oil company in the world, after Exxon/Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, with 80,000 employees worldwide as of last December, sales of $239 billion in 2009 and a market value — even after the recent losses — of more than $100 billion.

BP also has extensive holdings in the United States.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

The Justice Department did not help matters when it said Wednesday that it was planning to take action to force BP to withhold its next dividend payment.

At a time when Britain is desperate to reduce its deficit, BP is a huge contributor to British tax revenue, paying nearly $1.4 billion in taxes on its profits last year.

“Ironically, by being extremely strong financially, BP has become a target.”

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

Iain Armstrong, an analyst at Brewin Dolphin, an investment manager here, said that the situation had become “overpoliticized” and had confused the markets about BP’s actual strength.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

Some Britons are irked at President Obama’s seeming determination to refer to the company as “British Petroleum” — even though it jettisoned that name in favor of initials years ago.

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

The company’s dividend payments accounted for about 13 percent of the dividends handed out by British companies last year, according to FairPensions, a London-based charity.

At a time when Britain is desperate to reduce its deficit, BP is a huge contributor to British tax revenue, paying nearly $1.4 billion in taxes on its profits last year.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

At a time when Britain is desperate to reduce its deficit, BP is a huge contributor to British tax revenue, paying nearly $1.4 billion in taxes on its profits last year.

He said he would discuss the situation with Mr. Obama when the two next spoke, in a scheduled telephone call this weekend.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

Its reputation for reliability and its generous dividends have long made it a favorite of British pension funds.

Speaking of its performance on the stock market since Wednesday, it said it was “not aware of any reason which justifies this share price movement.”

It merged with Amoco, the former Standard Oil of Indiana, in 1998, and about 40 percent of its shares are held by American investors.

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

In that atmosphere, the stream of condemnations from Washington has stirred a protective backlash, even in this closest of American allies.

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to criticize the United States, however, saying he sympathized with its “frustration” in dealing with its worst environmental disaster in memory.

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

Boris Johnson, the Conservative mayor of London, said Thursday that he was worried about “anti-British rhetoric” and “name calling” from American politicians.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

“Ironically, by being extremely strong financially, BP has become a target.”

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

In any case, they point out, it is truly a multinational company, traded on both the New York and London stock exchanges, with British and American nationals on its board of directors.

Iain Armstrong, an analyst at Brewin Dolphin, an investment manager here, said that the situation had become “overpoliticized” and had confused the markets about BP’s actual strength.

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to criticize the United States, however, saying he sympathized with its “frustration” in dealing with its worst environmental disaster in memory.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

Its reputation for reliability and its generous dividends have long made it a favorite of British pension funds.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

The most important thing is to mitigate the effects and get to the root of the problem.”

Iain Armstrong, an analyst at Brewin Dolphin, an investment manager here, said that the situation had become “overpoliticized” and had confused the markets about BP’s actual strength.

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

In any case, they point out, it is truly a multinational company, traded on both the New York and London stock exchanges, with British and American nationals on its board of directors.

“When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP, it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great British company is being continually beaten up on the airwaves,” Mr. Johnson told BBC radio’s Today program.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

Boris Johnson, the Conservative mayor of London, said Thursday that he was worried about “anti-British rhetoric” and “name calling” from American politicians.

Speaking of its performance on the stock market since Wednesday, it said it was “not aware of any reason which justifies this share price movement.”

It owns a refinery in Texas City, Tex., that is one of the world’s largest, and a 50 percent interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline, in addition to a huge gasoline marketing operation.

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

“The rest of the world is fed up with the parasitic attitude of the U.S.,” went one representative comment on the Daily Telegraph Web site.

He said he would discuss the situation with Mr. Obama when the two next spoke, in a scheduled telephone call this weekend.

BP is the third largest oil company in the world, after Exxon/Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, with 80,000 employees worldwide as of last December, sales of $239 billion in 2009 and a market value — even after the recent losses — of more than $100 billion.

But alarms went off in Britain when President Obama said earlier this week that he would have fired Mr. Hayward, BP’s chief executive, if Mr. Hayward worked for him and that he was looking for “whose ass to kick” in connection with the disaster.

Speaking of its performance on the stock market since Wednesday, it said it was “not aware of any reason which justifies this share price movement.”

But in Britain, where the company is a mainstay of the stock market and a favorite of pension funds, investors and politicians are becoming increasingly angry at the blistering attacks from across the Atlantic.

The most important thing is to mitigate the effects and get to the root of the problem.”

BP is the third largest oil company in the world, after Exxon/Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, with 80,000 employees worldwide as of last December, sales of $239 billion in 2009 and a market value — even after the recent losses — of more than $100 billion.

“The rest of the world is fed up with the parasitic attitude of the U.S.,” went one representative comment on the Daily Telegraph Web site.

At a time when Britain is desperate to reduce its deficit, BP is a huge contributor to British tax revenue, paying nearly $1.4 billion in taxes on its profits last year.

But alarms went off in Britain when President Obama said earlier this week that he would have fired Mr. Hayward, BP’s chief executive, if Mr. Hayward worked for him and that he was looking for “whose ass to kick” in connection with the disaster.

It merged with Amoco, the former Standard Oil of Indiana, in 1998, and about 40 percent of its shares are held by American investors.

In that atmosphere, the stream of condemnations from Washington has stirred a protective backlash, even in this closest of American allies.

Some Britons are irked at President Obama’s seeming determination to refer to the company as “British Petroleum” — even though it jettisoned that name in favor of initials years ago.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.

Comments on British message boards this week have been full of anger at the United States and disillusionment at Mr. Obama, a wildly popular president here until now.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

Comments on British message boards this week have been full of anger at the United States and disillusionment at Mr. Obama, a wildly popular president here until now.

The Justice Department did not help matters when it said Wednesday that it was planning to take action to force BP to withhold its next dividend payment.

Some Britons are irked at President Obama’s seeming determination to refer to the company as “British Petroleum” — even though it jettisoned that name in favor of initials years ago.

In any case, they point out, it is truly a multinational company, traded on both the New York and London stock exchanges, with British and American nationals on its board of directors.

“When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP, it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great British company is being continually beaten up on the airwaves,” Mr. Johnson told BBC radio’s Today program.

Comments on British message boards this week have been full of anger at the United States and disillusionment at Mr. Obama, a wildly popular president here until now.

Even as Mr. Obama has been attacked at home for his mild manner, so has Mr. Cameron, the new prime minister, been criticized here for not standing up more forcefully to the United States as BP’s fortunes have continued to plummet.

“When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP, it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great British company is being continually beaten up on the airwaves,” Mr. Johnson told BBC radio’s Today program.

It owns a refinery in Texas City, Tex., that is one of the world’s largest, and a 50 percent interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline, in addition to a huge gasoline marketing operation.

“As a Dutch citizen, I used to be a supporter of the U.S., but not anymore.

It owns a refinery in Texas City, Tex., that is one of the world’s largest, and a 50 percent interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline, in addition to a huge gasoline marketing operation.

“When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP, it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great British company is being continually beaten up on the airwaves,” Mr. Johnson told BBC radio’s Today program.

On Thursday in Washington, the Obama administration tried to play down the diplomatic tensions, saying the issue was purely between a private company and the United States government.

In that atmosphere, the stream of condemnations from Washington has stirred a protective backlash, even in this closest of American allies.

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to criticize the United States, however, saying he sympathized with its “frustration” in dealing with its worst environmental disaster in memory.

BP is the third largest oil company in the world, after Exxon/Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, with 80,000 employees worldwide as of last December, sales of $239 billion in 2009 and a market value — even after the recent losses — of more than $100 billion.

Even as Mr. Obama has been attacked at home for his mild manner, so has Mr. Cameron, the new prime minister, been criticized here for not standing up more forcefully to the United States as BP’s fortunes have continued to plummet.

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

Its reputation for reliability and its generous dividends have long made it a favorite of British pension funds.

The company’s dividend payments accounted for about 13 percent of the dividends handed out by British companies last year, according to FairPensions, a London-based charity.

The most important thing is to mitigate the effects and get to the root of the problem.”

Even as Mr. Obama has been attacked at home for his mild manner, so has Mr. Cameron, the new prime minister, been criticized here for not standing up more forcefully to the United States as BP’s fortunes have continued to plummet.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

Speaking of its performance on the stock market since Wednesday, it said it was “not aware of any reason which justifies this share price movement.”

On Thursday in Washington, the Obama administration tried to play down the diplomatic tensions, saying the issue was purely between a private company and the United States government.

Many Britons are upset at what they see not just as the economic costs of American anger, but also at language they say demonizes Britain, America’s partner in the so-called special relationship — loose talk that taps into the British suspicion that Americans are insular and overly nationalistic.

Iain Armstrong, an analyst at Brewin Dolphin, an investment manager here, said that the situation had become “overpoliticized” and had confused the markets about BP’s actual strength.

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

The company’s dividend payments accounted for about 13 percent of the dividends handed out by British companies last year, according to FairPensions, a London-based charity.

He said he would discuss the situation with Mr. Obama when the two next spoke, in a scheduled telephone call this weekend.

“When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP, it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great British company is being continually beaten up on the airwaves,” Mr. Johnson told BBC radio’s Today program.

“The government must put down a marker with the U.S. administration that the survival and long-term prosperity of BP is a vital British interest,” Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the United States, told the BBC.

But Mr. Cameron himself, apparently eager not to offend his American ally, took a mollifying tone.

But the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, signaled careful support for BP, saying that he had spoken to its chief executive, Tony Hayward, and that it was important to remember “the economic value BP brings to people in Britain and America.”

In an attempt to soothe panicking investors and dispel fears that it could face bankruptcy or be forced to put itself up for sale, BP said Thursday that it had “significant capacity and flexibility in dealing with the cost of responding to the incident, the environmental remediation and the payment of legitimate claims.”

Writing on his Web site, a Conservative peer, Lord Tebbit, called the American response “a crude, bigoted, xenophobic display of partisan, political, presidential petulance against a multinational company.”

The company’s dividend payments accounted for about 13 percent of the dividends handed out by British companies last year, according to FairPensions, a London-based charity.

The Justice Department did not help matters when it said Wednesday that it was planning to take action to force BP to withhold its next dividend payment.

LONDON — Spewing oil and alienating Americans with its chief executive’s impolitic remarks, BP may be Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States.

The most important thing is to mitigate the effects and get to the root of the problem.”

The company’s dividend payments accounted for about 13 percent of the dividends handed out by British companies last year, according to FairPensions, a London-based charity.

The Justice Department did not help matters when it said Wednesday that it was planning to take action to force BP to withhold its next dividend payment.

BP’s share price, even after recovering some ground in New York trading on Thursday, has fallen more than 40 percent since the environmental catastrophe in April, and some analysts say the crisis could lead to the takeover or even the bankruptcy of one of Britain’s most valuable and iconic companies.