pecuniary sense

[pars]

Dear all:
What does the sentence in bold mean in the following passage? It is from Persian Petroleum, by Davoudi, p. 108. All the sentence in bold in intended.
The Admiralty had, after all, introduced the company to the opportunity in Persia and had a direct interest in securing a British-owned source of oil within the British sphere of influence. When discussing board nominations, Pretyman had made this clear, as he ‘soon passed on to the subject that was uppermost in his mind – viz. that “the Admiralty had put [the company] in the way of this splendid oil strike” and that he looked to [them] not to forget it’. Wallace, in turn, responded that ‘when [they were] making satisfactory profits in Persia – and not till then [could] the Admiralty, or he, expect [them] to even consider the possibility of being patriotic in a pecuniary sense’

Thanks very much.

 

[teechar]

Wallace was saying that it's only when the company could make actual profits that the admiralty's action could be considered tangibly useful.

 

[probus]

I am not disagreeing with @teechar, but the sentence is puzzling to me. I've always thought patriotism was a matter of emotion, quite separate from financial matters. Perhaps some people are so avaricious that they love any country that affords them the chance of profits.

 

[5jj]

Pretyman had made this clear, as he ‘soon passed on to the subject that was uppermost in his mind – viz. that “the Admiralty had put [the company] in the way of this splendid oil strike” and that he looked to [them] not to forget it’. Wallace, in turn, responded that ‘when [they were] making satisfactory profits in Persia – and not till then [could] the Admiralty, or he, expect [them] to even consider the possibility of being patriotic in a pecuniary sense’

It seems to me to mean:

Pretyman (representing the Admiralty): We helped you get this great oil strike and we expect you not to forget that.
Wallace (representing the company): Only when the company makes satisfactory can the Admiralty expect the company to be patriotic in a financial way, i.e., by giving the Admiralty money.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, patriotic in a pecuniary sense makes it very clear that Wallace was referring to money.