Republican farmer., 1919-08-08
AMERICANS IN MEXICO FACING
 LARGE LOSSES
More Than 1000. With Mil lions Invested Alarmed
 Over New Agrarian Law.
SEVERAL. COMPANIES
 FILE COMPLAINTS
Protest Against Arbitrary Appropriation of
 Lands.

Washington, Aug 1.--More than 1.- 900 Americans are threatened with loss Of millicns of dollars in invest ments by new agrarian law enacted by the Congress of Sonora, Mexico, at the direct instructions of Gov. Gales.
 several American companies have already filed com plaints with the State bepartment against the operation of th1s law and other com plaints are in preparation. The department is pre- pairing representations to 1he Carran- ga Government against putting the law into operation because of the injus- tices, this Government contends it works upon United States citizens who have invested many millions in agri- cultural lands in Sonora
 By the terms of the law it is pro- vided that the State will pay for lands appropriated with agrarian bonds is- sued by the State, redeemable at a time and manner to be stipulated later. The new Constitution of Mex aco provides that the states shal tissue agrartan bonds under authority of a law that has not yet been enacted by the Federal Congress.
 The Americans point out in their complaints to the State Departmenk that these bonds are of no value, in asmuch as the National Government of Mexico has not paid the interest on It's bonds since 1913.
 The alternative for the American holders of these lands is to sell them to Mexicans and take pay in 20 an- nual fnstalments of Mexican money And dispute is to be left in the hands of the Governor, who may act arbi- trardly
 Americans in their complaints to the State Department point out that in order to make much of the Sonora lands productive extensive irrigation works are necessary and many mil lions of dollars have been expended there in every instance iby citizens of the United States. The holdings of Americans have. without exception, been secured under the old Constitu- tion. In fact, the Mexican Govern ment as then constituted encouraged Americans in making these invest ments.
 The complaints filed with the State Department protest against the arbf- which, it is contended, means practi- cal confiscation
 Advices from Mexico City today re- port the sending of a number of Sec ret Service men by Chief Orozco, for merly Chief of Police of Mexico City, into the old fields at Tan1pico in an endeavor to get evidence against for eign oil companies operating in that region. Attention of the State De- partment has been called to the ac- tion, which is believed to be another move on the part of the Mexican Gov ernment to bring about the confisca- tton of the foreign-owned oil proper ties
 According to the advices, the meo were sent to Tampico to seek em- ployment by the oil companies, but as these companies have been warned through a Teak" in Mexico City, 1t is believed they will be unable to ob- tain employment. It was charged the foreign oil companies were aiding revolutionists. but according to State Department officials. the rebel Pelaez is the only person. aside from the Carranza authorities. who is receiv- ing any aid from the companies.
 Pelaez, it was explained, is paid a salary for protection of the oil fields south of Tampico. The salary is ap- portioned among the various foreign and has been approved by the State Department here. and by the British, Dutch and French for eign ofnces.