The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-19
TROUBLE IN
MEX|C0,sCHEME
Of ENCLAND'S
ENGLAND TRIED TO GAIN MONOP.
OILY OF MEXICO'S OIL
OUTPUT
Is Claimed by Those Who Keep in
Touch With Such
Affairs

Washington, Nov. "a big
game of world politics, this is the un.
derlying cause of recent events in
Mexico, according to apparently au.
thentic information obtained here to-
day.
If this information can be accept.
ed as true, and recent events are cit
ed to force such a conclusion, Presi-
dent Wilson, in his fight to prevent
European powers from getting grip
on Mexico, which might have re-
mained firm for generation, has
played practically lone nand.
The history of this game, as re-
vealed today. goes back to a disclo-
sure made a month a?O to President
Wilson Of a combination between
Gen. Huerta, as de facto president
of Mexico, and important figures in
the government of Great Britain,
which, If it had been successful,
would have meant tnar England
would have gained monopoly of the
oil output of Mexico.
The Importance of these oil con-
cessiOns to Great Britain is what IL
said to lie back of the entire ques.
ton. Recently, under the guidance
of Winston Churchill, first lord of
the British admiralty, England has
begun building oilburning battle
ships and many naval experts think
that this is the type Of war vessel Of
the near future.
In its beginning the Mexican oil
question Is said by diplomats here to
have played around rtain agree
ments between Winston Churchill
and Lord Cowdray, formerly Sir
Weetman Pearson, the moving spirit
in the firm of S. Pearson & Son,
Limited. Incidentally, the son OF
Mr.. loyd-George. chancellor Of the
excheqner in Great Britain, is said
to be an employe of the Pearson COM
pany. But the preliminarics of the
negotiations are unimportant.
The statement is made, and docu-
ments are produced to back it up.
that during the last days of the
Diaz regime, concessions were grant
ed by the Mexican government to
Lord Cowdray and his company to all
the oil from the immense tracts Of
public lands in the States Of Chiapas,
Campeche. TahascO, Vera Cruz, the
Vale district, Of the State of San
Luis Potosi and the southern dis
tricts of the State Of Tamaulpas.
Then came the Madero revolution.
and Jose Vasconcelos, prominent
Mexican lawyer, was authorized to
make an INVESTIGATION of the subject
for President Madero. He reported
that the concessions were ille9al.
The result was that a movement
was beoun to revoke the concessions
About this time the Pearson company
began to try to sell its concessions to
the Standard Oil Co., It is said.
Next followed the overthrow OF
Madero and the coming into power
OF lIuerta and here beoins the his
tory which is interesting at this
time. Private oil concerns are said
to be intimately mixed up in the az.
fair. but the part PLAYED by govern
mcnts Is what Is attracting attention
at this time.
Persistent reports began to be cir
culated that Great Britain needed
the Pearson oil concessions In Mex
leo and that unless these concessions
were gained and made leyal by the
Mexican congress, Great Britain had
Just as well stop building its oil
burning dreadnoughts.
In return for these oil con cessionA
It Is reported, Huerta was to have
gotten the support of Great Britain
and money with which to carry on
his government. This has been de-
MED. but men in close touch with
he situation here insist that they
,an prove 1t is true.
When the outlook for the oil con-
.essions became gloomy Sir Lionel
Garden was hurried to Mexico CITY
IS Great Britain's minrster. Huerta
dissolved the congress and threw
most Of the deputies inro Jail. It
vas said that the sentiment among
he delegates against Huerta caused
lin to take this action, nut now it
a 1noIoxod thok thatn rof,,oot IN nNns