Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-30
CHARGE PROPAGAND|sTs
D|sTORT WILSON NOTE.
Mexican Government SHARPLY Crit.
cized for Giving 1t Publication
ut This Time.
ROW OVER OIL LAND TAX
Singing Rebukc Is Made by State
Department for Violation of DipIo-
matte Procedure by the Carranza
Authorities.

WASHINGTON. June 2s.-The gov
eminent OF Mexico was sharply crit
icized by the State Department to-
day for permitting propaganda which
attempts to show Inconsistencies in
President Wilson's recent address to
the Mexican editors. The purpose Is
to counteract the nefarious efforts Of
German agents who apparently have
had the connivance OF the Carranza
authorities.
The correspondence authorized for
publication reveals that the United
States is closely scrutinizing every de-
velopment south OF the Rio Grande
and is maintaining rigid policy for
The protection OF American rights
note delivered by Ambassador
Henry y. Fletcher TO the Mexican gov
eminent on April .. 1918, protesting
against the Carranza oil lands tax,
hitherto unpublished in the United
states. is the indirect subject Of the
present controversy. Its substance is
contained in the following paragraph:
1t becomes the function OF the gov
eminent OF the United States most
earnestly and respectfully to call tho
attention of the Mexican government
to the necessity which may arise 10
impel il TO protect the property of its
citizens in Mexico Invested or injuri-
ously affected by the decree above
cited"
The note was not given out here
at the time it was delivered to the
Carranza government, because no move
was made to do SO by the recipient
authorities. How. however, when it
serves the purpose of German propa
gandtsts TO distort President VIII.
sons friendly address to the visiting
Mexican editors. the document apnears
10 have been freely available to the
Mexican press.
STATE DEPARTMENT
ISSUES SHARP MOTIF,
singing rebuke Is made by the
State Department for this violation
or diplomatic procedure, as follows.
inc united States government would
have appreciated being asked for i,s
consent to the publication Of this note,
inasmuch as this procedure is USUALLY
followed in diplomatic dealings b.tw,.n
friendly nations. Such consent would
OF course have been readily given II
the Mexican government had intimatcd
that 1t believed the note should have
been published"
The comment from inc State De.
nartmept Oil the charge OF inconsis-
tency between the Fletcher note and
President Wilson's address. emphasizes
that there is no disposition on the
part Of the United States to inter-
tere with the internal affairs of Mex.
ico.' II is pointed out that the prin-
ciple Of the note is fully sustained by
the following excerpt from the Pres
idents address:
IL Omitted States) must depend upon
every nation that has any relations
with her and the citizens Of any ma.
ton having relations with her, keep
ing within the bounds of honor and
fair dealing and Justice"
1t was explained at the State De.
partment that conference is now
being held In Mexico City between
American owners of oil properties and
the Carranza government. Last re-
ports indicated that an amicable set
Element of the problem was likely to
result. IT is thought here the pro-
German elements in Mexico employed
their criticisms of the Presidents adj
dress in an effort to prevent an agree
ment and cause further. friction be-
tween the two governments.