The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-01
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 l. coo Americans are threatened with loss of millions of dollars in invest ments by a new agrarian law enacted by the Congress of Sonora, Mexico, at the direct instructions of Gov. Gales.
 Several American companies have already filed complaints with tho State Department against the operation of this law and other complaints are in preparation. The department is pre- pering representations to the Carran- "a Government against putting the law into operation because of the injus- tices, this Government contends, 1t 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- vfded 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. Tho new Constitutlon Of Mex leo provides that the states shal tissue aErarian bonds under authority of a law that has not yet been enacted by the Federal Congress.
 Tho Americans point out in their complaints to the State Department 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 tnstalrnents of Mexican money. And dispute is to be left in the hands of the Governor, who may act arbi- trarily.
 Americans in their complaints to the G+9ra order to make much of the sonora lands productive extensive irrigation works are necessary and many mil Hons of dollars have been expended there in every instance by citizens of the Unitezi 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 nents.
 The complaints filed with the State Department protest against the arqof- trary appropriation of these lands which, it is cQntended, 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 Tam pico In an endeavor to get evidence against for eign oil companies operating in that region. Attention of the State De- pertinent has been called to the ac- tion, which is believed to be another move on the part of the Mexican Gov | erument to bring about the confsca- | ton of the foreign-owned oil proper | ties.
 ! According to the advices, the mer | 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, il | 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 Pelael
 is the only person, aside from the . Carranza authorities, who is receiv' ing any aid from the companies. ! Pelaez, it was explained, is paid 2
 salary for protection of the oil field: south of Tampico. The salary is ap' portioned among the various foreigT { companies and has been approved b5 the State Department here, and bN
 the British, Dutch and French for
 eign offices.