The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-16
BRITAIN'S NEED
OF MEXICAN OIL
TOFORCECRISIS
Ambassador. on Bryan's Adj
vice. Protests to Carranza
on St0ppage.
WILSON MAY HAVE TO
TAKE VIGOROUS ACTION

W,-itINuro>. Jan. i5.--Represeutation
~ ...l. t,fIs,i is very strong" were made
a. 'n, state department to-day by the
British Ambassador In protest against
t,.a.l.ou Of Cdrrau2d In compelling Brit
i.b OF ,uupar les tn the Tampico district
I, suspend operations.
Ual,ss CJrjduza quickly yields to pro-
,.ts already sent to him from Washing
g., the Administration win be confronted
v.,h critical situation. should Car
RAMA exhibit the same stubboruness he has
or prt,Iuus occasions President Wilson
All have 20 decide whether or not he
vu take vigorous measures aud also
fac the strongest Kind OF pressure from
,.r,1f Britain ON the subject. All deVel-
oYneut, point 10 a crisis.
rr. indications are that Great Britain
Is prepared % so to much greater lengths
g. regard to the oil situation In Tampico
t.an ever before. because her naval and
land forces To- u considerable degree are
dependent upon the Mexican oil feds for
the petroleum.
s.oppagc q. her oil supply from Tam
p.o f,I1s would. the British believe. COM
r.. her to find other sources. probably the
I'rfcd states and pay higher price and
po..iblv menace her with a real shortage
In off,
Two wears ago Winston Churchill told
Parliament boo notable speech that Il
49,. considered absolutely imperative to
continue existing contracts with the Pear
sons for Mexican oil. and pointed out that
I've Mexican oil came to England by the
on, route not likely to he interferred
With by a war The situation he predicted
Is realized to-day.
The result Of Ambassador Spring-Rices
conference with Mr.. Bryan to-day was
that the Ambassador sent directly to Car
r,uza At Vera Cruz protest against his
violation OF the rights OF the OIL COM
o an
n law. THIS step was taken by the Ann
hss.ad,' at the suggestion OF Mr.. Bryan.
Whether Mr.. Bryan's suggestion OF d.
ro,t action 10y the Ambassador IL an indi-
cation that the Administration Is prepared
10 ,tI Great Britain to take her own
measures iu VI aNico for protection Of
British oil companies In case Cdrranza
does not Yield to representations made
o. him cannot Vet be said. II Is believed.
however. that the question OF Mexican
o. supply js so vital TO the British at
m time that II the United States does
pot secure remedy OF the stuat ton the
British Government may be prepared to
at Independently.
IN speaking Of the American repre-
so.'ttlous to Carranza In behalf OF the
o companies Mr. Bryan said to-day that
'Nss ppiuted out to CarranZa the serious
,.r,.queucos which might result" from
~. treatment Of the oil men. No response
HJF .et been received
Nj Brygu. II was learned to-day, Is
roas on the theory that Carranza will
r'i dare continue In his present course and
wi. withdraw his threats OF confiscation II
'hsy continue operations. This theory Is
not wholly shared by others Interested in
the oil properties.
S said by the oil companies that
'No trouble grew out OF their refusal 20
r.. C.U~auza sums he demanded II Is
charged tina; Carranza ordered the COM
pIg.es to pay 10 him AZ Vera Cruz moneys
20. taxes which they had continued send
"s 90 Mexico city afte- Carranza left the
" ..nau capital.
The United States nov has the gun
boat sacramento and Petrol at Tamp.co
aud the battleship Delaware at Vera
Cruz
While the situation Is rapidly assuming
serious aspect in its international phases
i is also particularly distrtssfu in the
Tampico district. There are 1900 Ameri-
ca loo the oil fields, many OF whom have
been thrown ont Of work by Carranza' s
suppression OF the operations All the
American women in the outlying districts
H'" being sent to Tampico, as an adj
Vance of villa forces Is expected.
The state Department to-day made pub
lo what is said to be an expression Oy
Provisional President Gutierrez. In praise
o. President Wilson's views about Mexico
. contained IN HE speech at indianapolis
Gu'Ic.ryZs comment is as follows:
The McSican people and nay govern.
m'r. have received with satisfaction the
o0n.ous contained in the speech of Presi-
Gent Wilson at indianapolis. These opin-
ions serve az a further proof o: the purity
of his views. President Wilson'S pro-
''I0d sympathy for our people has always
been appreciated by US. In all the Incl.
dn's that have arisen subsequent % his
ian : charge OF the Administration. this
sympathy has been invariably shown.