Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-08
TAMP|CO OIL MEN
PROTEST TO BRYAN
Complain of PeriIous Position
of Properties Since War;
ships Were Withdrawn.

Representatives of American oil inter-
ests at Tampico who have come to
Washington to protest to the President
and Secretaries Bryan. Garrison and Dam
iels about the perilous position in which
their properties are placed. particularly
since the withdrawal Of the battleships
from Tampico. were in long conference
with Secretary Bryan this afternoon.
Leaders in the delegation are W. f.
Lucas. W. NJ. Hanson. J. Wood, L. c.
to represent about 5.Gno Americans They
Willard, and have prepared reams of
typewriter testimony which they are sub
mitting to officials here.
While they were closeted with Secre-
tary Bryan. Charge O'Shaughnessy call
ed at the State Department. and, getting
tired of waiting. went away. saying he
would return later in the day.
This delegation of oil interests called
upon Secretary Daniels yesterday. but
told practically that they We're lucky to
get out OF Mexico. and ought to be
thankful for the assistance the admins
tration gave them in getting back TO the
| nited states, rather than to be critics.
ing what had been done in an emergency
by the administration
Daniels Answers Complaints.
Essentials of the American policy in
Mexico. up TO the present time, were re-
iterated last night in a statement by
Secretary Daniels. replying to complaints
against the withdrawal of United States
warships from the river at Tampico. and
to criticism of the departments refusal
fn ia txe ycf ha to TaY
after they had been removed from the
danger zone. The statement declared
that the department had considered as its
e-eminent duty the prevention OF loss of
life and the rescue of foreigners and
Americans in peril The protection of
property beyond range of the navy's guns
was next to impossible. the statement de-
clared. but so far as has been possible
the navy has endeavored to cool the en-
thusiasm of an excited populace by the
sight of the visible power for reprisal
that is displayed by the guns of our war
ships lying as they are today In practical
ly every port on the east and west
coasts.
Secretary Daniels statement explained
that when the occupation of Vera Cruz
was decided upon the American warships
at Tampico were ordered to reinforce Ad-
miral Fletcher's squadron. Events moved
SO swiftly, however, that the order was
rescnded. Then the American ships might
have proceeded up the river toward Tam
pico but Rear Admiral Mayo refrained
upon the urgent request of the British
naval commander that he be allowed to
remove citizens of the United States for
the sake of the safety OF all foreigners.
Ii was feared that after the Vera Cruz
seizure the sight of American warships
might intiame mobs 20 outbreaks in
which no foreigners life would be re-
spected.
Would Have Infamed Mexicans.
The American vessels We're withdrawn
from Tampico i'll the first place. the Sec
retary said because 1t was thought their
presence at Vera Cruz would be essential
Later. he explained it would have been
possible for Admiral Mayo to have gone
into the river with his ships to rescue
refugees
Even had IT been possible. however"
continued the statement. under cover of
the guns of the ships available, to have
brought these refugees In the city of
Tampico itself safely on board. word of
aggressive action by the Americans
would have spread to the surrounding
country far swifter than any relief ex-
petition could have travelled to their
rescue. and it is almost certain that
reprisal on American citizens would
have followed. and lives would have
been lost. So clear was this that the
captain OF the British man-of-war earn