The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-14

against the provisions OF tle OH aS
cree of Feb. p, which was declared
to be conhscatory and in violation
of the rights of English companies
holding oil claims, the Mexican gov
ernment has declared that it does
not recognize the right OF any for
eign government to protest against
DEGREES of this nature.
1t holds that by virtue OF its SOW
ereign rights, the Mexican govern
ment is free to adopt such fiscal
legislation as is necessary.
Mexico suggests that recourse to
the courts would be the proper
method Of determining whether the
oil land decree is unjust and con-
hscatory.
Text of Reply.
The Mexican reply follows;
Without judging the axactness or
inexactness of the qualifications OF
established taxes, the Mexican gov
ernment can only express the sur
prise caused by the note and the
Brittanic majesty, if it found that
in the capacity of an independent
nation in the legitimate exercise OF
her sovereignty, Mexico issued de-
cree against which the only recourse
that Mexican laws concede is when
they Judge onerous and contiscatory
taxes decreed by public power.
Says Mexico Is Surprised.
"The surprise of the Mexican gov
ernment is legitimate, as would be
that of any other government OF a
free country, including that OF his
would not permit diplomatic pro-
acts of interior legislation, such as
the right of imposing contributions,
were called in question by the diplo-
matte protests of the countries OF
subjects affected by the imposition.
The Mexican government is sure
that the government of his majesty
matte intervention tends such de-
tests against the high contributions
that war caused him to decree in all
his dominion, and which should
weigh equally, not only upon British
subjects and subjects OF conquered
nations, or those subjected in any
form to his dominion, but upon for
eigners alike.
"In virtue of its freedom of fiscal
legislation, it is opportune to de-
clare that the Mexican government
does not recognize the right of any
foreign country to protest against
acts of this nature coming from the
right to exercise interior sover-
eSnty, and in consequence cannot
accept the responsibility which II
is pretended will be charged to her
account as supposed damages as a
consequence of this legislation. Such
a decision is founded upon the equal
ity which the Mexican government
desires should exist between Mex
leans and foreigners regarding con-
tributions decreed in its territory,
because it is deemed that, conceding
the preferences to which all diplo-
matte intervention tends such de-
cision is fair to Mexico in its strict
est terms.
Says Courts Are Open.
"The course to be taken by for
eigners and nationals alike to free
themselves from impositions which
are deemed confiscatory consists in
submitting the case before tribu
mails, which are always found ready
to administer justice, applying the
law, which justly guarantees indi-
viduals against confiscation OF prop
erty. Furthermore, it is generally
admitted that diplomatic Iepresen-
tation should be the last recourse
taken, and only when the last re-
sources have been exhausted.
"If the provisions of the decree
are openly against the laws and in
violation of contracts previously
made, according to the concept of
his Brittanic majesty, such could
not nationally constitute an obsta-
Gle to the free development of Mex
lean property, and this development
can demand, as has happened, GER
tain changes in legislation beneficial
to the country. This is evident when
it is considered that the modern
of property is that it is a
social function bound closely to the
prosperity of the state.
Guarantees For Foreign Interests.
The Mexican government has
firm purpose in respect to foreign
1t gives them guarantees
facilitating their development and
believes that its program can only
be realized through the laws and i'll
stitutions of the republic by applying
equally.
"Esteeming that it is the best
guarantee it can impart, the Mexi-
can government cannot see a way
to accept the diplomatic protests
from his Brittanic majesty which
would have the effect of giving Eng
lish citizens unequal preference over
Mexican nationals"