The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
Protest Is Received at White House by American Resi- dents at Tampico Over Confiscatory Decrees
PROTEST IS SENT TO
 STATE DEPARTMENT
 FOR FURTHER ACTION
Gen. Pershing and Gavira Will Confer This Week on Ways and Means to Cap ture Mexican Outlaws

Washington, May 2S.-On the eve of receipt of General Carranzas note, which officials believe will renew the de- mand for withdrawal of American troops from Mexico, and with another confer ence between American and Mexican military commanders about to begin, protest was received at the White House today reporting serious difficulties be- tween American oil operators at Tam pico and the Mexican authorities.
 The protest came in the form of a telegram addressed to President Wilson by S4 American citizens residing at Tam pico, who had held a mass meeting and determined to lay their case before the government. They declared the Mexican military officials were promulgatng de- crees designed to make it impossible for Americans to do business in the country and told how one of their number had been imprisoned for three hours because he refused to pay his employees sums fixed by the authorities in excess of terms previously agreed upon with the men.
 ASSERT RIGHTS
 The signers of the message asserted their right to protection from the Amer ican goverfnent and announced their determination not to comply with arbi- trary and confiscatory orders and de- crees by the Mexicans
 White House officials sent the protest to the state department for investiga- tion. Other complaints already had been received regarding reeas deeress by the Carranza government, and it is probable that there will be representations on the subject just as soon as the controversy over the presence of American troops in Mexico is adjusted.
 "It has become 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 authorities that we believe to be directed primarily against American citizens. For year a series of decrees have made their ap- pearance, which have been progressive in that they are consistently becoming more anti-American. We believe that the au- thorities had not the remotest idea, when they first began to issue such de- crees, that they would be able to en- force 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 property is threatened with confiscation, and in some cases has been actually con- fiscated, and our personal liberty is menaced.
 MILITARY DEGREES
 "A military decree was issued some months ago providing that lands 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 until now no foreigner is permitted to acquire leases, real estate or assignments of leases from a native. In this state an American may not acquire real estate nor may he lease land from a Mexican, nor will he even be permit ted to lease house or apartment for
 
 The military government of this state has instructed the stamp office not to issue certificates of transfer where one American sells to another, and the gov ernor refuses to certify to the signature of the notary in any contract or other instrument in which an American ap- pears. The effect of this procedure is to prevent Americans from transferring their property to other foreigners.
 "A decree was issued few days ago by the local military authorities provid- ing that labor should be paid, and mer- chandise would be sold, on basis of Mexican gold, the consideration 70 be paid in Mexican paper money at an arbi- trary value fixed by the government re- gardless of the commercial Value of this paper money as regulated by supply and demand.
 VIOLATE MEXICAN LAW
 "All of the above decrees violate Mexi- can law, and are in contravention of the rights of Americans guaranteed by treaty between Mexico and the United States. We desire to know if the American government will permit the above de- crees, or any of them, to remain in force where the rights of American are in- volved. An understanding with the au- thorities as to the future would not be sufficient The decreeL already in exist elnce must be repealed where they affect Americans
 The Mexican embassy had information today that Manuel Mendez. General Car ranzas personal messenger bringing the new note to the United States, passed through St. Louis yesterday and should reach here early tomorrow. Elseo Ar
 tCOntinued on Page Two)