New-York tribune., 1919-07-02
Carranza Is Accused of
L lot to COnfiscate
Oil Properties Owned
by American Citizens
Soldiers Are Sent
TO Halt Drillers
$4,000 Gold Robbery
Reported by Force
in Mexican Uniform

WASHINGTON, July 1.-Thc MeNi-
can government has committed an
overt act Of contiscation in preventing
work by American OIL well drilers on
lands owned by American individuals
or companies hy sending soldiers into
the fields and driving away the work
men. State Department officials said
to- day. Complaint was made 10 the
Mexican government on April , of this
year it was learned, against the re
fusal Of he government to grant per
mts to the oil companies to drill No
answer was received until after the
Juarez incident. it was SAID. and then
President Carranza announced no per
mlts, provisional or other, would be
granted until the companies had COM
pied with the Mexican law Com
pllance with the Jaw It was said by
State Department officials, would con-
st'tute recognition by the companies
that the Mexican government owned
the oil lands.
Urgent representations have been
made to the Mexican government for
the punishment of those responsible
tor the murder of John w Carroll, an
American citizen, the maltreatment Of
ms wife and the attempted murder Of
ms son at their ranch near Colona.
twenty seven miles north OF Tampico,
the State Department announced to-
day. instructions have been sent to
both the American Embassy at Mexico
CITY and the American Consulate at
Iamplco to urge immediate capture
and punishment of the perpetrators Of
the outrage and protection for other
Americans in the district
Robberies Reported
Reports of two additional robberies
in the Tampico oil fields were received
to day at the State Department. They
SAID OF June 22 the paymaster of the
Guit Refining Company was robbed Of
$4,000 gold which he was taking 20
pay Off employees, and on June 23 the
camp of the National Oil Company was
ralded by men in the uniforms Of
Mexican federal troops and all the en-
ployes robbed
The order to the military forces to
prevent drilling by force OF arms was
issued by President Carranza last May
16, according to advices from Mexico
City too day.
The Mexican War Department trans
mltted the order. with specific directions
as to the action to be taken by the
soldiers as to the military commanders
at Iamplco and Tuxpam, and immedi-
ately companies of soldiers were sent
to the fields
An Investigation to determine the
number of Americans killed and the
amount of American property losses
in Mexico since the Madero revolu-
tion was called for to-day in reso-
luton presented in the Senate by
Senator King, Democrat, of Utah.
The King Resolution
The text follows:
"Whereas American citizens residing
in and having property in the Repub-
lie of Mexico, have suffered damages
amounting to several hundred mill on
dollars by reason of the unlawful de-
structlon and larceny Of property and
IN addition thereto have been sub
jected to personal outrage and in bun
dreds of cases have suffered murder
and assassination; and
wv hereas, no progress has anpar-
emily been made toward the Iquida-
ton, settlement and payment of claims
against the Mexican government on ac-
count of whose delnquencies such
damages and outrages have been sui
fered; Now, therefore, be it
"Resolved, by the Senate, That the
Committee on Foreign Relations. or any
subcommittee thereof, is authorized
and directed to investigate the matter
of damages and outrages suffered by
citizens of the United States in the
Republic of Mexico, including the mum
Der of citizens OF the United States
who have been killed or who have
suffered personal outrages in Mexico.
and the amount Of proper irdemnitie
for such murders and outrages. The
quantity C damages suffered on a.
count OF the destruction, confscat'on
ard larcen" of personal propert. ana
the confscatiop and deprvatior If .Ao
use Of lands and the destruction Of
improvements thereon: The number Of
citizens CT the United States residiar
IN Mexico at the time porfrio Diaz re
tired from the Presidency of Mexico.
and the number of citizens of the
United States at present residing IN
Mexico, and the nature and amount %
their present holdings and properties
IN SAID country. And for this purpose
to subpoena such witnesses and docu-
ments as may be necessary and to make
report of the findings in the premises