Evening star., 1918-06-30
US. ASKSS SQUARE
DEAL FROM MEXICO
State Department Explains
Oil Tax Protest Sent to
Carranza.
HAD BEEN MlSCONSTRUED

Declaring that all the United States
asks of Mexico for American citizens
is justice and fair dealing, the State
Department yesterday made public a
Solemn protest sent to President
Carranza against the Mexican decree
of February 10, 1918, establishing a
tax on oil lands.
The statement says the new tax
amounts practically to confiscation.
or. at least. unfair imposition. and
cites extracts from President Wilson's
speech to the Mexican editors on the
future relations of nations. as fol-
lows:
"As long as there is suspicion there
is going to be Misunderstanding, and
as long as there is misunderstanding
there is going to be trouble. If you
once get a situation of trust, you have
got a situation of permanent peace"
The statement by the State Depart
ment says further:
THE United States always desires
to accord to the Mexican government
and people Justice and fair dealing.
and it is confident that it will be ac-
corded the same justice and the same
fair dealing in return
inconsistent, Says Carranza.
The State Department gave out its
statement and the text of its protest.
after having learned that soon after
President Wilson's speech to the
Mexican editors here recently had
been printed in the Mexican papers
the Carranza government gave out
the text of the American governments
protest against the oil decree. and it
was commented upon as being ncon-
sistent with the Presidents speech
The United States government
would have appreciated being asked
for it's consent to the publication of
this note, fnasmuch as this procedure
is usually followed in diplomatic deal
ings between friendly nations" says
the departments statement. Such
consent would, of course, have been
readily given If the Mexican govern
ment had intimated that it believed
the note should be published"
Not to NEEDLE in Mexican Affairs.
The departments statement contin-
ues:
AN examination of the note proves
that all that the United States asks
vestments in Mexico, relying on the
good faith and the justice of the
Mexican government and Mexican
laws is Justice and fair dealings.
There is no disposition on the part of
the United States government to in
terfere in the internal affairs of Mex
leo.
However, the seizure of property
at the will of the sovereign. without
due legal process. equitably admin
istered, and without provision for just
compensation, has always been re-
cause for diplomatic representations"
Ambassador Fletcher's Note.
Ambassador Fletcher's note of April
2, after stating that the United States
government had given careful con-
sideration to the effect of the decree,
says:
The United States cannot acquiesce
in any procedure ostensibly or NOM
inally in the form of taxation or the
exercise of eminent domain. but really
resulting in confiscation of private
property and arbitrary deprivation of
vested rights.
1.-The seizure or spoilation of prop
erty at the mere will of the sovereign
and without due legal process fairly
and equitably administered has al
ways been regarded as denial of
justice and as affording internation-
ally a basis of interposition.
MY government is not in a position
to state definitely that the operation
of the aforementioned decree will, in
effect, amount to conf1scation of
American interests. Nevertheless, it
is deemed important that the govern
ment of the United States should state
at this time the real apprehension
which 1t entertains as to the possible
effect of this decree upon the vested
rights of American citizens in oil
properties in Mexico"