Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-15
BIC WORLD STAKE
IN MEXICAN GAME
Politics of Europe Involved,
Making Task of U. S.
More Difficult.
HUGE OIL CONCESSIONS
PRIZE ENGLAND SOUGHT
President Wilson Has Played Al
most Lone Hand in Dealing
With Hard Problem.

\ big game of world politics a game
much more far-reaching than the public
mas understood, game showing clear
ly the part big finance plays in the al
fairs of nations today, a game in which
the old lineup of European countries
has crept into the affairs of the western
hemisphere-this is the underlying
cause of recent events in Mexico. ac-
cording TO apparently authentic informa-
tio. CLEANED today
II this information can be accepted as
true. and recent events are cited 10 force
such a conclusion. President Wilson, il
his fight to prevent European powers
from getting a grip on Mexico which
might have remained firm for genera
ton, has played practically lone hand
And the indications today were that the
President is about to win.
The history of this game. as revealed
today, goes back 10 disclosure made
months ago to President Wilson Of 9
combination between Gen. Huerta. as Dc
facto President of Mexico, and important
fgureS In the government Of Great Brit
ain. which. if it had been success, III
would have meant that England would
have gained a monopoly of the oil out
put of Mexico.
Oil Concession Important.
The Importance of these oil conces-
sions to Great Britain Is what is said 10
lie back Of the entire question. Re
Gently, under the guidance of Winston
Churchill, first lord of the British ad-
miralty, England has begun building oil
burning battieships and many nava. eX-
perts think that this IS the type of wal
vessel Of the future.
In its beginning the Mexican oil ques
ton is said to have played around Ger
tain agreements between Winston
Churchill and Lord Cowdray. former /,
Sir Weetnan Pearson. the moving spiri
in the firm of S. Pearson a. Son, Limited
incidentally, the son of MIR. Lloyd
George, chancellor of the exchequer il
Great Britain, is said to be an employ,
OF the Pearson company. But the pre-
liminaries of the negotiations are unim
portant.
The statement is made and document
are produced to back It up that durtni
the last days Of the Diaz regime conces
sions We're granted by the Mexican gov
ernment to Lord Cowdray and his com
pany to all the oil from the immens,
tracts of Iubiic lands in the states o
Chlapas. Campeche, Tobasco, Vera Cruz
the Ealle district Of the state of SaI
LUIS Potosi and the southern district ui
the state of Tamaul.pas.
Then came the Madero revolution, anc
Jose Vasconcelos. prominent Mexican
lawyer was authorized to make IN in
vestigation of subject for President
'Madero. He reported that the conces
sions We're Illegal. His statements to the
President of Mexico are extremely en-
tightening.
The result was that movement was
begun to revoke the concessions. About
this time the Pearson Company began to
try to sell its concessions to the Standard
Oil Company.
Huerta Comes to Power.
Next followed the overthrow of Madero
and the coming into power of Huerta, and
here begins the history which is inter
estlng at this time. Private oil concerns
the affair but the part played by the
tention at this time.
Persistent reports began to be circu.
lated that Great Britain needed the Pear
son oil concessions i'll Mexico and that ui-
less these concessions were gained and
made legal by the Mexican congress
Great Britain had Just as wei stop build
ing its oil-burning dreadnou:,hts
Huerta is said to have wanted to get
the Mexican congress to confirm the
Pearson cOncee Sions of oil. But the
house Of delegates had III il many of the
supporters Of Madero and Of Carranza.
In return for these oil concessions. IL is
reported Huerta was to have gotten the
support of Great Britain and money with
which 70 carry on his government. This
has been denied. but men III close touch
with the situation Insist that they can
prove il is true.
When the outlook for the oil conces-
sfons became very gloomy Sir Lionel
Garden WAS hurried TO Mexico City as
Great Britains minister. Also, Huerta
dissolved the congress and threw most of
the deputies into Jail. 1t was said that
the sentiment among the delegates against
Huerta caused him to take this action,
bat now it is declared that their refusal
to confirm the oil concessions WAS the
real cause.
Immediately following the dissolution
of th.. congress Sir Lionel Garden pre-
scented his credentials, thus practically
giving the support OF t'reaJ Britain to
his action Quickly aftersard followed
Huerta's announcement that new
congress would be elected. This con-
gress is to 5e convened today
w
Now rs to the indications that the
President knew what was going on
First: At Mobile he issued a warning to
the world concerning his administra
tons attitude toward foreign conces-
sions in Latin America. Next. his noti-
ii ton to Great Britain that any con-
cessions granted by the new Mexican
congress would not be recognized by
the United States Next. his notice to
Huerta that the congress should not be
allowed to convene
Incidentally men in close touch with
the affair here have noticed that the
German minister 10 Mexico has held fire.
quent conferences with John Lind. even
going to Vera Cruz to see him. The feel
Ing between Germany and Great Britain
IS well known. IL is 70 II supposed that
Germany has been keeping closely In
touch with the entire affair. For England
to have a practical monopoly OF such a
great oil field when oil may become the
war vessel fuel of the future could not be
otherwise than d;stasteful to Germany.
Then came the frequcDt calls of
Amer can Ambassador Page To the for
sfi<x. in, Y ivs fn txaI