Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-11
q COMPANIES FILE.
PROTESTS AGAINST
H|GH-HANDED ACTS
Chairman Payne Places Sub
ject Directly Before Presi-
dent in Memorandum.
ACTION OF MEXICAN RULER
DENOUNCED IN CONGRESS
Demand Immediate Steps Be
Taken to Protect Interests
of America.
MORE TESTIMONY is ADDuCEO
Fall Committee Pictures Mexico as
Regarding Diplomatic Notes
as Pcrfunctory.
ACTION OF MEXICAN RULER
DENOUNCED IN CONGRESS
MORE TESTIMONY IS ADDuCEo
Fall Committee Pictures Mexico as
Regarding Diplomatic Notes
as Pcrfunctory.

WASHINGTON. Dec. io.-The MeS!-
can government is making good !ts
scheme TO nationaiizc the oil industry
Armed Mexican soldiers have stopped
American companies from drill
Ing oil wells. and have .ockcd up
their tools under government seal
This high-handcd procedure on the
part Of the Carranza administration
was brought 20 the attention OF mem,
hers OF Congress- today in a letter Of
protest from twenty ono American
companies operating OIL wells in
Mexico.
before President Wilson IN mem
orandum submitted by Chairman Payne.
OF the Shipping Beard. who is appre.
hensive over the curtailment OF fuel oil
for the American merchant mar!pe.
Write to Secretary Lnnsing.
~ the same time S"..rman Payne
urgently pressing the importance OF
protecting the American supply Of
Mexican fuel oil from Illegal Interior
enes by the Mexican government
The oil companies protest was in
serted in the Congressional Record by
Representativc Garner. Democrat. of
Ss;.s, Tssns and Rspressn,Stvs ;sssG GoYia Re
NAL statement denounc!ng the action
OF Carranza and calling on the sd-
,ninistration for immediate steps TO
protect the interests Of the United
states.
More Testimony Adduced.
Further testimony taken by the Fail
committee Investigating Mexican ar
fairs. made public today, pictures the
Carranza government as regarding all
diplomatic protests of the America n
government as perfunctory. and ac-
credits TO officials OF the Mexican gov
crnmcnt Il policy OF driving Americans
out OF the country.
The committee today made public the
testimony OF w. r. Buckley. an Ameri-
can lawyer, long resident in Tampico.
and one Of the cll-known men of the
American colony in Mexico.
Luis Cabrera tMexican Minister OF
ed Buckley. that tho menace OF the
American in Mexico must be removed.
and that the only way TO do this was
take his property.
continued. that Mr.. Wilson was what
liberal. great Democrat whose con-
cern was for the welfare OF the people
Of the world, and was not limited TO
ihe narrow bounds of the United States.
He said Mr.. Wilson was opposed 10
capital In Mexico and everywhere else.
% no matter to whom the cani'al be-
9nsrH; msric,n a"d drom ,hat n eSfpeilns the
tionalists would receive the sympathy
OF the American government"
Buckicy aSsaileh the attitude OF the
oil companies in Mexico.
Confused with Oil.
The Mexican situation has been
made too much of an oil question:
he told the committee. "and has been
confused too much with oil The oil
companies have suffered, and are on
titled to relief. but their suffering has
been nothing as compared to that of
The American of smaller means"
Tho oil companies. Buckley charged
had pursued weak and vacillatins
policy. very similar to that Of the
American government in handling the
general Mexican situation.
Resort to Bribery.
The oil company able TO fight"
Buckley said. has not had the cour-
age to do so, and has fallen hack on
the ono alternative There is
doing business in Mexico which has
pay roll. In adopting this contempti- :
Bile policy the oil companies have not
only contributed to their present plight.
but they have failed TO seize that lead :
crship in the fight for American rights
In Mexico to which they were urged
by circumstances. and in so failing
they have done inca lculahle harm to
ihe American of small means and to the
tige.' -
Buckley insisted he did not believe
armed Intervention the ONLY solution.
Hc suggested the possibility OF this
government giving its unoualificd sup
Dort 10 some one representing the oil
order. or as an alternatives withdra NJ
ing recognition of the present govern
hent and patiently await until I, hot :
tsr government might be cstablishcd.