Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-14
MEXICO REJECTS
BRITISH PROTEST
Denies Right of That Gov
ernment to Object to
Oil Decree
ASSERTS SOVEREIGNTY
BY the Associated Press

Replying to a protest from Great Brit
ain against the provisions of the oil
decree Of February %, which was de-
clared to be coniscatory and in VIOLA
ton of the rights of English companies
holding oil claims. the Mexican Govern
ment has declared that it does not recog-
nize the right Of any foreign govern
ment to protest against DEGREES of this
nature. 1t holds that by virtue of its
sovereign rights the Mexican Govern
ment is free to adopt such fiscal legisla-
ton as Unnecessary. 1t suggests that re-
course to the courts would be the proper
method of determining whether the oil
land decree is unjust and confiscatory.
The Mexican reply follows:
without judging the exactness or in
exactness of the qualifications of estab-
lished taxes, the Mexican Government
can only express the surprise caused by
the note and the protest of his Britannia
Majesty for In ths--Gapaeity: of an in
dependent nat1onin the Legitimate exer-
else of her sovereignty. Mexico issued a
decree against which the only recourse
that Mexican laws concede Is when they
Judge onerous and confiscatory tayes
decreed by public power.
THE surprise of the Mexican Govern
ment is legitimate, as would be that of
any other Government of free country,
including that of his Britannia Majesty,
II it found that acts of interior legisla-
ton such as the right of imposing con-
tributions were called into question by
the diplomatic protests of the countries
of subjects affected by the imposition.
The Mexican Government is sure that
the Government of His Majesty would
not permit diplomatic protests against
the high contributions that the war has
caused him to decree In all his domin-
ions. and which should weigh equally
not only upon British subjects and sub
jects of conquered nations, or those sub
jected in any form to his dominion, but
upon foreigners alike.
Denies Right of Protest
IN virtue of it's freedom of fiscal
legislation. 1t is opportune to declare
that the Mexican Government does not
recognize the right of any foreign coun-
| try to protest against acts of this nature
coming from the right to exercise in
terior sovereignty, and, in consequence
cannot accept the responsibility which
it Is pretended will be charged to hel
account as supposed damages as a con
sequence Of this legislation. 6tI'N
Such a decision Is founded uponfThe
equality which the Mexican GovernffAn
desires should exist between Mexican:
and foreigners regarding contributions
decreed in its territory, because it i:
deemed that, conceding the preferences
to which all diplomatic intervention
| tends, such decision is fair to Mexico
in its strictest terms.
Courts the Proper Recourse
THE course to be taken by foreigners
and nationals alike to free themselves
| from impositions which are deemed con
fscatory consists in submitting the case
before tribunals, which are always founc
ready to administer justice, applying thu
! law, which justly guarantees individuals
against confiscation of property. Furth
ermore, 1t Is generally admitted tina
| Diplomatic representation should be th
| last recourse taken and only when tn
last resources have been exhausted.
| IF the provisions OF the decree ar.
| openly against the laws and In viola
| ton of contracts previously made, ac
| cording to the concept of his Britanni
Majesty, such could not nationally con
stitute an obstacle to the free develop
ment of Mexican property, and this de
yelopment can demand, as has happened
certain changes OF legislation oeneHcid
to the country. This is evident when l
Is considered that the modern concept o
property is that 1t is q social function
bound closely to the property OF tn
State.
The Mexican Government has hrr
purpose in respect to foreign interests
1t gives them guarantees facilitatin
their development and believes that II
program can only be realized throug
the laws and Institutions of the republi
! by applying dispositions equally,
"Esteeming that 1t Isl the best guar
4 antee 1t can impart, the Mexican Gov
ernment cannot see a way to acceI
the diplomatic protests from his Brit
annie Majesty, which would have tn
effect of diving English citizens ur
equal preference over Mexican nation
| ais" -
The reply is signed by General Car
dido Aguilar. Minister Of Foreign Al
fairs.