The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-30
This Is Statement Made Fol- lowing Action of Car ranza in Publishing
 Diplomatic Paper
SOLEMN PROTEST IS MADE AGAINST OIL
 DECREE OF FEBRUARY
Text of This Is Given Out Following Its Publicity in Latin-American
 Republic

Washington, June 29.-Declaring that all the United States asks of Mex ico for American citizens is justice and fair dealing, the state department to- day made public ca solemn protestv sent to President Carranza against the Mexican degree of February I9 1918, establishing tax on oil lands.
 The statement says the new tax amounts practically to confiscation, or at least unfair imposition, and cites ex- tracts from President Wilson's speech to the Mexican editors on the future re- lations of nations as follows:
 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 situation of trust, you have got a sit uation of permanent peace
 DEMANDS FAIR DEALING
 The statement by the state department 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 GeaUng in return
 The state department gave out it's statement, and the text of its protest to- day, after having learned that soon after President Wilson's speech to the Mex ican editors here recently had been printed in the Mexican papers, the Car ranza government gave out the text of
 
 against the oil decree and it was com mented upon as being inconsistent with the Presidents speech.
 VIOLATED DIPLOMATIC RULES
 The United States government would have appreciated being asked for it's con- sent to the publication of this note, inas- much as this procedure is usually foi lowed in diplomatic dealings between friendly nations," says the department 5 statement Such consent would of course, have been readily given if the Mexican government had intimated that it believed the note should be published ' The department's statement continues: An examination of the note proves that all that the United States asks for Its citizens who have made investments in Mexico relying on the good faith and the justice of the Mexican government and Mexican laws, is justice and fair dealnS. There Is no disposition the part of the United States government to interfere in the internal affairs of Mex ico.
 However, the seizure of property at the will of the sovereign, without the legal process, equitably administered and without provision for just compensation. has always been regarded as denial of justice and cause for diplomatic rep reSentationS."
 FLETCHER'S NOTE
 Ambassador Fletcher's note of April 2 after stating that the United States gov ernment had given careful consideration to the effect of the decree, says:
 The United States cannot acquiesce in any procedure ostensibly or nominally in the form of taxation or the exercise of eminent domain, but really resulting in confscation of private property and ar bitrary deprivation of vested rights.
 "The seizure or sopliation of property at the mere will of the sovereign and without due legal process, fairly and equitably administered, has always been regarded as a denial of justice and as affording internationally basis of inter- position.
 My government is not in a position to state definitely that the operation of the aforementioned decree will, in effect amount to confiscation of American inter- ests. Nevertheless, it is deemed import, ant that the government of the United States should state at this time the real apprehension which it entertains as tc the possible effect of this decree upon the vested rights Of American citizen ships in oil properties in Mexico
 CaIo