Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-29
From "a Americans

The protest came in the form Of q
telegram addressed to President Will
son by "a American citizens residing
at Tampico, who had held mass
meeting and determined to lay their
case before the government. They de-
clared that the Mexican military Off,
Gals were promulgating DEGREES de-
signed to make 1t impossible for Am
orleans to do business in the country
and told Of how one Of their number
had been arrested and imprisoned for
three hours because he refused to pay,
his employees wages fixed by the au-
thorities in excess Of terms previous
ly agreed upon with the men.
The signers OF the message asserted
their right to protection from the Ameri-
can government and announced their de-
termination OF to comply with arbitrary
and confiscatory orders and DEGREES Of
the MeXcans.
White House officials sent the protest
to the State department for investigation.
Other complaints already have been re-
ceived regarding recent DEGREES ~ the
Carranza govrnment, and it is probable
that there will be representations on tho
subject just as soon as the controversy
over the presence Of American troops in
Mexico is adjusted.
I'VE believe that the authorities had not
the remotest idea when they first begun
to issue such DEGREES" the Tampico mes
sage said, that they would be able to
enforce them, but that. when nothing was
done by our government to secure their
repeal these edicts have been made more
stringent each day until now our prop
ia r1,{f
in some cases has been actually confls-
Gated. and our personal liberty IL mem
aced."
"A military decree was issued some
months ago providing that lands might
might not be leased in the state Of
Vera Cruz for oil purposes without
the consent OF the state government
and this decree has been modified un-
til now no foreigner is permitted to
acquire leases, real estate or assign
ments on leases from a native. In this
state an American may not acquire
real estate nor may he lease land from
Il Mexican. nor will he even be per-
mitted to lease a house or apartment
for over one year without a special
permit The military government Of
this state has instructed the stamp Of
ficer not to issue certificates of trans
fer where one American sells to an
other and the governor refuses to
certify the signature Of the notary in
any contract or other instrument in
, which an American appears, the effect
Of this procedure being to prevent
Americans from transferring their
property to other foreigners.
"A decree was issued few days ago
by the local military authorities, pro-
viding that labor should be paid, and
merchandise should be sold on a basis
Of Mexican gold, the consideration to
be paid in Mexican paper money at
an arbitrary value fixed by the gov
eminent regardless Of the commercial
value Of this paper money as regulated
by supply and demand.
IAN Of the above DEGREES violate
Mexican law and are in contravention
Of the rights Of Americans guaranteed
by treaty between Mexico and the Unit
ed States. We desire to know If the
American government will permit the
above DEGREES or any Of them. to re-
main in force where the rights Of
Americans are involved an understand-t
ing with the authorities as to the fu-
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