Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-02

PRESIDENT WILSON
REBUKES MEXICO
FOR DISCOURTESY
American Government viii
Protect Rights of Its Citizens
on Oil Lands, Note of Protest
on Decree Warns

WASHINGTON, June 29.-MexicC
stands rebuked tonight for the diplo-
matte discourtesy of making public a
United States oil protest note without
asking the usual publication permits
sion.
The protest, hitherto suppressed, ask
ell fairness and justice for United States
oil inv estors, and contained the hid
den suggestion that the American gov
eminent would protect it's citizens oil
rights in Mexico if necessity arose.
The reproval of Mexico for diplo-
matte discourtesy arose from the fact
that the note, reaching the anti-Amer-
lean, pro-German press in Mexico, had
been Interpreted as running counter tC
President Wilson's friendly message de-
livered to Mexican editors recently. .
The state department pointed out
that the protest had merely sought to
have Mexico use investors fairly. And
President Wilson suggested to the edi-
tors that fair dealing and Punishment
of suspicion could aid Mexico to place
in the sun, especially when foreign
capital flocked into the country to de-
Velop its resources.
The statement accompanying the note
explained the United States does not in
tend to interfere in Mexican internal
affairs. The protest itself carried nc
hint of such interference. 1t said only
that it saw the possibility of confisea-
ton in a Carranza oil decree; that ii
felt constrained to protest solemnly
and to advise Mexico it would be inn
PEELED to protect American interests II
Mexico herself did not safeguard them
1t was pointed out that the decree not
only ran counter to international usage
but likewise was contrary to guaran-
tees in the Mexican constitution.
The explanatory statement showed a
touch of impatience with the PRO Ger
man twist placed on the affair. And
while the state department intended
mainly to set Mexico straight as to the
United States attitude, it was learned
that officials fully. intended that Mex
leo should realize United States inn
patience with a situation which gave
German propagandists a chance at dis
tortion.
The United States government would
nave appreciated being asked for its
consent to the publication of this note,
said the rebuke portion, "inasmuch as
this procedure is usually followed in
diplomatic dealings between friendly
nations. Such consent would, of course,
have been readily given if the Mexican
government had intimated that 1t be-
lieved the note should be published"
The protest proper was dated April
and signed by Ambassador Fletcher
at the order of the state department.
I'm the absence of the establishment
of any procedure looking to the proven
ton of spoIiation of American citizens,
said the protest, land in the absence
of any assurance, were such procedure
established, that it would not uphold
in defiance of international law and
justice the arbitrary contiscationS of
Mexican authorities, t becomes the
function of the government of the Unit
ed States most earnestly and respect
fully to call the attention of the Mex
lean government to tho necessity which
may arise to impel it TO protect the
property of it's citizens in Mexico. di-
vested or injuriously affected by the
decree cited above"