New-York tribune., 1919-08-15
is the existence Of some bands, the
weak remains of the large groups.
Good Intentions ALLEGED


Good Intentions Alleged
THE Mexican government has been.
and continues, animated by the best
OF intentions to eliminate all those
difficulties which might disturb its
good relations with the government
OF the United States. and has so
proved on repeated occasions. If the
government OF the United States
er protection, the Mexican govern
ment. anxiously desiring as -ver
good understanding between both
governments, suggests the desirab'li-
" that citizens Of the United States
concentrate in the populous places
where complete guarantees may be
offered them, and that these citizens,
when they find it necessary to visit
the dangerous zones request suffi-
cient forces for their protection.
which will be furnished by the McXi-
can authorities.
"In the Tampico region the pay
masters OF the petroleum companies
have been offered escorts to accom-
pany them for the transportation of
funds, and the companies have re-
fused, on the preteXt that the pres
cnce of the escort precipitatea the at
tacks of the rebels. or that the in
div duals Of the escort do not con-
duct themselves properly. These are
unfounded assertions. Moreover. the
relation which has existed between
those same petroleum companies and
the rebels is notorious, it being also
suspected that there may have been
cases in which the paymasters were
in accord with the supposed assail-
ants.
Reimbursement Promised
"The Mexican government, in or
der to demonstrate once more its
Willingness to furnish complete pro-
lection, has already formally prom
ised to reimburse the sums which
might be taken from the paymastcrs
notwithstanding the presence of the
escort, and if this last offer is not
accepted the consequences will be
the exclusive fault of those same
interested parties.
81 believe have made clear the
true situation and the possibility Of
the Mexican government giving daily
increasing means of protection to
life and property as it evidently has
done and its undeniable desire to
secure every class OF guarantees
view of these facts, the menace en-
braced in your note has surprised
the Mexican government, all the
more SO since it seems strange that
it should be exacted that even in
depopulated regions human life
should be protected in more per-
feet manner than in the most pop
ulous cities of the most cultured
countries where bloody crimes often
occur without the respective gov
ernments thereby becoming the OBJ
jcct of severe observations"
The Association Of Producers of Pc
troleum in Mexico admitted the truth
Of the charge made in the Mexican
note, that the petroleum companies had
mad dealings with the rebels headed
oy Manuel Palaez. in the Tampico dis
trict, but said money was paid to
Palaez on the advice of Eliseo Are
iondo, Am bassador Designate. and with
the acquiescence of the State Depart
ment.
Paymasters Declared Honest
Az the request of the State Depart
sentatives Of the various American oil
with property in Mexico met
here this week and drafted memoran-
dunn replying to charges made in
recent note presented at the depart
nent by Ambassador Bonllas. The
A ambassador intimated in his note that
the numerous pay roll robberies were
perpetrated by the paymasters them
selves.
~"The paymasters Of the companies
are all known mon of long association
with the companies" said the memoran-
dun replying to this vcilcd charge,
"and would not be serving as paymas-
ters unless the company had thorough
confidence in their personal honesty.
The belief of all the representatives is
absolute that the insinuation contained
in the note from the Mexican Embassy
is entirely unjustified in fact"
The memorandum also asserts that
until the coming Of Carranzista cam
oaign into the oil country there was not
a single case of assault assassination.
robbery or even insult to any employe
of any American company by the in
habitants of the oil producing region"