New-York tribune., 1918-06-30
u. S. Protests
To Cananza
Over Oil Tax
State Department Calls 1t
Con6scation of
Property

WASHINGTON, June 29.-Declaring
that all the United States asks of Mex
leo for American citizens is justice and
fair dealing, the State Department
made public to-day solemn protest"
sent to President Carranza against the
Mexican decree Of February 10, 1913,
establishing n tax on. oil lands.
The statements S.sags che new tax
amounts practically TO confiscation or,
at least fsir imnosition, and cites
extracts from President Wilson's
speech to the Mexican editors on the
future relations of nations as follows:
GAS 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 situation of trust then you
have got a situation Of permanent
peace"
Asks Fair Treatment
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 accorded
the same justice and the same fair
dealing in return"
The State Department gave out its
statement and the text of its protest
to-day, 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 COM
mented upon as being inconsistent
with the Presidents speech.
"The United States government
would have appreciated being asked
for its consent to the publication of
this note, inasmuch as this procedure
is usually followed in diplomatic deal
ings between friendly nations" says
the departments statement. "Such
consent would, of course, have been
ICAuIly klVcu IL tuC MCAlC6u KOVSIH-
ment had intimated that it believed
the note should be published"
The departments statement con-
tinues:
"An examination of the note proves
that all that the United States asks
for its citizens who have made invest
ments in Mexico, relying on the good
faith and the justice of the Mexican
government and Mexican laws, is JUS
tice and fair dealing. There is no
disposition on the part of the United
States government to interfere in the
internal affairs of Mexico.
Denial of Justice
"However, the seizure of property at
the will Of the sovereign without due
legal process, equitably administered
and without provision for just COM
pensation, has always been regarded
as denial Of justice and a cause Of
diplomatic representations"
Ambassador Fletcher's note of April
2, after stating that the United State
government had given careful con-
sideration to the effect of the decree
says:-
"The United Safes cannot acquiesce
in any procedure ostensibly or nomi-
nally 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. The seizure OF
spoliation Of property at the mere will
Of the sovereign. and without due legal
process fairly and equitably admins.
tered, has always been regarded as q
denial of Justice and as affording in
ternationally basis Of interposition
my government is not in a position
to state definitely that the operation
of the aforementioned decree will II
! effect amount to confiscation Of Amer.
lean interests. Nevertheless. it is
deemed important that the government
Of the United States should state *
/ this time the real apprehension which
it entertains ~ to the possible effect
of this decree upon the vested rights 81
american citizens in oil properties il
Mexico"
Hetel Aassrave. 7snd st.. near Col. Az,
TranA rates. e3 and up. hseR. ecol rocn
With oath.--Advt.