The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-10
D. s. BACKS OIL MEN
IN MEXICAN CRISIS
State Department Protests to
First Chief at High Handed
Action.
PLANS STERN MEASURES
Warning Issued Against So
Called Claims Collect
ing Agency.
PLANS STERN MEASURES
Special Despatch TO Tar suS.

WASHINGTON, July S.-ActlnG SeCre-
tsry OF State Polk tornado made 1t clear
that the United States Government was
going to stand staunchly behind tho
American oil interests in Mexico. now
engaged in controversy with First Chief
Carranza. An emphatic protest has
gone to Carranza from the State DEPART
ment here concerning the refusal Of the
Mexican authorities. acting under Car
ransa's orders, to permit the Panuco-
Boston Oil Company to bore wells on its
property, and the high handed action OF
Carranzista soldiers in forcibly invading
the property of the Americans. Unless
CarranzH gives satisfaction there IL more
than a possibility OF determined meas
ures being taken against him. for the
list of Carranza's offences against the
United States has been increasing
steadily
Mr.. Polk had a conference with Ameri-
can oil men to-day. Carranza has for
hidden them TO bore wells without first
getting permits or licenses from the
Mexican Government, and they cannot
get the permits without admitting that
the title to their wells rests with the
Government Of Mexico. In the circum-
stances they are at a loss to know what
to do, and have appealed to the State
Department for help and advice.
OIL Men mt Conference.
The oil men who attended the confer
ence were John S. Weller. Pennsylvania
Mexican Fuel Company; John A. Young.
Island Oil and Transport Company; G.
o. Swain, Transcontinental Petroleum
Company: Barton w. Wilson, Winthrop
L. Dwight. Cortez Oil Company and
Port Lobos Oil Company: Ira Jewell
Williams, Panuco-Boston OIL Company
and La Atlantica Company; A. L.
Watts, Freeport Tampico OIL Company !;
+. N. watriss. International Petroleum
Company; william T. Wallace. Mexican
Gulf OIL Company; Guy Stevens. the
Texas Company OF Mexico p. ]. Riley.
National Oil Company Harold Walker.
Mexican Petroleum Company and Pam
American Petroleum and Transport
Company. and Charles II. Rathoorn+
Southern Oil Company.
The oil men are reported to have sug-
kested that the State Department re-
quest permission OF the Mexican Gov
eminent for the employees Of the oil
companies to arm themselves for pro-
lection against bandits and that the oil
companies be allowed to use airplanes
for the transportation Of money from
the offices to the oil fields to prevent, II
possible, the seizure of payrolls by the
bandits which infest the country.
The State Department to-day made an
official announcement concerning Car
ranza's so-calied financial agency estab-
lished at 100 Broadway. n. Y, to assist
Americans in collecting claims from the
Carranza Government. Warning that
the United States does not indorse the
Carranza scneme was given in no I'M
certain terms.
The following statement was made
public:
1.-THE attention Of the Department Of
State has Been called to an advertise
ment which appeared in THE SUN OF
July 7. 1919. entitled The Truth About
Mexico calling attention OF Americans
to the Mexican claims commission
authorized by degrees of President Car
rama of November "a and December "a.
1917, and suggesting that all who have
claims cognizable by this commission
should make application at once for
damages sustained.
"In order that American citizens hav-
ing claims against Mexico might not be
misled by this advertisement the acting
Secretary OF State points out that the
Government of the United States has
not accepted the Mexican commission
referred 10 in the DEGREES OF November
"a and December "a, 1917, and has not
advised American claimants to present
their claims against Mexico to this COM
mission.
Action Over Claims.
In response to a resolution of the
Senate of February 7. 1919. with ref
erence to claims against Mexico. the De-
partment OF State, replied on March
70. 1918:
ION November "a. 1917. President
Carranza, by q decree. provided for the
establishment OF a commission for the
consideration of claims Of foreigners
against the Mexican Government and a
board Of arbitration to whom claimants
dissatisfied with the awards of the COM
mission could appeal. This decree Is
still the subject OF diplomatic nesotia-
lions with the Government OF Mexico
with view to arranging a more speedy
and satisfactory method Of adjustment
and payment of these claims and the
Senate will be promptly advised OF the
result OF these negotiations
ION April 26, 1919, the American
Charge d'Affaires at Mexico City advised
the department that the president OF the
Mexican claims commission had stated
that the commission does not have the
power TO make awards. but merely
makes recommendations to the Federal
executive who will make the awards
that the Federal executive has not made
any awards up to the present time. be-
cause OF the lack OF full authorization
by Congress. and that Congress will pass
o law fully covering the subject during
IT'S next extraordinary session.
The Department Of State has not
been advised that legislation fully GOV.
ering the subject has been passed by the
Mexican Congress-"