Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-29
AMERICANS MAKE
PROTEST AGAINST
MEXICAN DEGREES
Eighty-Four U. S. Citizens
at Tampico Send Tele-
gram to President.
PROPERTY THREATENED
WITH CONFlSCATlON
Signers Assert Their Right to
Protection From Washing
ton Government.
DECLARE THEY WILL NOT OBEY
Carranza's Messenger, Bearing New
Note. Expected at Capital
To-Day.
DECLARE THEY WILL NOT OBEY
Carranza's Messenger, Bearing New
Note. Expected at Capital
To-Day.

WASHINGTON. May 2s.--On the eve
Of receipt OF General Carranza's note,
which officials believe will renew the
demand for withdrawal Of American
troops from Mexico, and with another
conference between American and Mex
ican military commanders about to
begin, protest was received at the
White House. reporting serious diff-
culties between American oil operators
AZ Tampico and the Mexican authori-
ties
The protest came in the form OF
telegram addressed 10 President Will
son by eiGhty-four American citizens
residing In Tampico They declared
the Mexican military officials were pro-
mitigating DEGREES designed to make II
Impossible for Americans to do bust
ness in the country. and said one Of
them had been arrested and impr!s-
oncd for three hours because he re-
fused 10 pay his employees wages fixed
by the authorities in excess OF terms
previously agreed upon with the men
The signers OF the message asserted
their right to protection from the
American government. and announced
their determination not 10 comply with
arbitrary and confiscatory orders and
dccrces by the Mexicans.
TO STATE DEPARTMENT
FOR INVESTIGATION
White House officials sent the pro-
test 10 the State Department for in
vest!gation Other complaints already
have been received regarding recent
DEGREES by the Carranza government
and II Is probable that there will be
Representations on the subject just as
Asoon as the controversy over the pres
&pnce OF American troops In Mexico is
vhdjusted
1T has hctome practically Impossible
for an American TO do business of any
nature in this section Of the country"
the Tampico message said. because
of restrictions placed by the authori-
ties that we believe TO b. directed
primarily against American citizens
For year series Of DEGREES have
made their appearance. which have
been progressive, in that they are con-
stantly becoming more anti-American
We believe that the authorities had
not the remotest idea, when they FIRST
began TO issue such DEGREES, that they
would he able to enforce them, but
that when nothing was done by our
government Ia secure their rereal, that
stringent each day, until now our
property is threatened with conisca-
tion, and. in some cases. has been
actually contiscated, and our personal
liberty is menaced.
NO FOREIGNER PERMITTED
TO ACQUIRE LEASES
"A military decree was issued some
months ago providing that lands might
ha t.,
Cruz for oil purposes without the
consent of the state government, and
this decree has been modified until
now no foreigner Is permitted TO ac-
Quire leases, real estate or assignments
OF leases from a native.
"A decree was issued a few days ago
hy the local military authorities pro-
viding that labor should he paid, and
merchandise would be sold OF basis
Of Mexican gold. the consideration to
be paid in Mexican paper money at
an arbitrary value fixed by the gov
crnment. regardless of the commercial
value of this paper money IS regulated
by supply and demand.
"All OF the above DEGREES violate
Mexican law and are I'm contrayention
Of tho rights of Americans guaran-
teed by treaty between Mexico and
the United States. We desire to know
IL the American government Will per-
NIT the above DEGREES. or any of them
! 70 remain in force where the rights of
{ Americans are involved. An under
standing with the authorities as to tho
future would not be sufficient. The
DEGREES already in existence must be
ri called where they If 80 Americans"
CARRANZA's MESSENGER
IS EXPECTED TODAY
Manuel Mendez. General Carranza's
personal messenger. bringing the new
note to the United States. passed
through st. Louis yesterday and
should reach here early tomorrow.
Eliseo Arredondo, the Mexican ambas-
sador designate, may deliver the com
niuncation Tomorrow. Otherwise its
delivery probably will be postponed
until Wednesday, government offices
being closed on Tuesday. In observance
of Memorial Day.
So far no official summary OF the
new note has been received. but all
information supports the uniform he
/ lief in official quarters that II will re-
new the suggestion that the American
expedition be withdrawn. There is no
indication that the administration Ia
prepared to grant such demand
Further details regarding the recent
engagement near Cruces. between men
OF the Seventeenth Infantry ana an out :
law band Of twenty under the notorious
bandit leaders. Bencomon and Ger
2vantes. both Of whom were killed by
\ Privatet George Hulett. were received
ut the War Department to-day from
\ General Pershipg. His message, dated
Continued on Second Page.)