The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-02
Oil Fields Will Not Be Recog-
nize d as Naturalization
Grounds and Grave Fears
Entertained.
If Opened Would
Destroy the City
Burning Fluid Would Sweep
Out to Sea and Foreign In
terest Would Suffer There
by-Strong Pressure Is Be-
ing Brought,

WASHINGTON. MAY 1-Carranza
has declined to enter into any agree
ment With Huerta fer the neutraliza-
ton Of the oil well zone near Tam
pico. The, constitntionalist cheftain
notified the state department tonight
Of the stand taken by him Ia this
matter,
Carrsnzas refusal is very Important
as affecting the Immediate situation
ct Tamplco, but 10 officials tn Wash
ington Il has a broader and more I'm
pressiFe significance It is regarded
here as a blow to the hopes Of the
South American mediators for any
agreement between Huerta and Car
rama for n suspension of hostiiities
pending an effort to adjust Mexicos
internal differences Until Carranza
can he persuaded ia modify his atti-
tude the real work of the mediators
- therefore likely TO he restricted to
the perfecting Of a settlement of the
acute situation between the United
States and Huerta.
The reply received from Carranza to-
night was exactly what observers have
been led to expect from the develop
ments during the last forty-eight
huurS carrarza's attitude il ait tns
more significant in view Of the fact
that Huerta was willing to agree to
the naturalization suggestion of the
United states.
This government has been very eager
To bring about u naturalization agree
nnent for the Tampico oil fields. IT
| desires this agreement TO protect IT.
self against contingencies which are
certain to arise IL these oil fields arc
attacked. The gushers outside of Tam
pico are owned by British. American
and German interests and the strong
est kind Of pressure has been brought
for the protection OF these wells. X
has been pointed out that IL Que or
these great Eushers should be allowed
10 run wild and he fred il might
destroy all, of Tamptco and the ship
ping in the harbor The oil. II is said
would flow down the river and cause
a contla grafton. These gushers have
been protected with heavy cement caps,
but. nevertheless, the danger is very
real SO long as the constitutionalists
and federals insist on continuing hos
ttlitles in the field
The most important Of the oil wells
are located about twenty miles from
The city of Tampieo, and 1t has been
the contention of Secretary Bryan
that a neutral zone could be establish
ed for their protection without inter-
ferjng with the campaign Of the con-
stitutionaiists To take the city itself.
10y AsAkil@ NtiiS Stdfld 1aTTdllLa may
compel the United States. in response
TO demands from foreign govern
ments. TO land troops at Tampico to
protect these properties.
II would not be at all surprising Il
a considerable part of the fleet at
Vera Cruz is now ordered to Tampico
for service in the event of an emer-
gencr.
Polite Refusal
The formal announcement Of Car
rama 81 refusal, as given out by the
state department tonight. read
"Carrauza has notified the state de-
partmeut that he Is not willing to
make an agreement in regard To- the
neutra llzation of +he oil wen zone. nut
50 far as his forces are concerned.
the operators may return to the oil
wells without being molested."
This is a polite way of saying that
Carranza refuses to make any agree
ment with Huerta, but Will do his best
10 prevent damage TO the oil prop
erty.
Next to Carranza's refusal the most
, interesting development in the Mex
lean situation was the immediate ac-
ton taken by Huerta in the case of