Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-09-20
AMERICAN 0WNED
OIL PROPERTY IN
MEXICO SEIZED
Specific Instances of COnfisca.
ton Are Related in the
Senate.

Washington, Sept. 19.-Specific
instances of the forfeiture Of oil
lands in Mexico were presented to-
day to the senate foreign relations
subcommittee investigating the
Mexican situation, by C. H. Rath-
bone, New York, director of the
Talvez Oil company, engaged more
directly in transportation than in oil
producing but subsidiary to the
Scottish Mexican Oil company, and
oil producing concern.
On the property Of the Scottish
Mexican company, Mr.. Rathbone
told the committee, a Mexican orga-
nization, the Mexican National Oil
company, had brought in one well
producing about 5000 barrels day,
and was sinking another. The Mex
lean concern denounced the proper
ty under the terms of the different
presidential decress with provisions
with which the different oil COM
panies operating in Mexico at the
advice of the state department have
not complied.
The Scottish-Mexican company is
a British organization but because
a majority of the stock is held by
Americans, Rathbone said the case
had been reported to the state de-
partment as we'll as to the British
embassy. The state department, he
added, had made representations Of
the Mexican government to the
effect that the American govern
ment did not expect the Mexican
government to pursue any course re-
sulting in injustice to American citi-
Zens.
Rathbone's testimony was proceed
ed by that of Judge Amos l.. Beatty,
New York, an attorney for the Tex
as company, who gave seven cases
in which his company had refused to
acquiesce in the confiscation of it's
lands and as penalty had been re-
fused the right to sink wells and in
some cases the land had been de-
nounced by others. In one case, he
said. a well was being put down by
Mexican company.
The attitude of the companies in
refusing to agree to the confiscation
of their properties, Judge Beatty
said, was in harmony with the state
departments protests. He added
the oil companies in Mexico were
determined to take no action which
could be construed as an acquies.
cence in the oil DEGREES.
On Carranza Payroll.
DIR. Henry Allen Upper told the
senate subcommittee investigating
the Mexican situation that he had
received approximately $3,4OO from
the Carranza government in settle
ment of expenses he had incurred
Documentary evidence had been sub.
mltted to the committee indicating
upper had been on the Carranza
pay roll presumably for his work
Tor peace under the SUPERVISION of
the international peace forum.
Inc witness said he had repeated
~. refused remuneration for his SER
wees; but when pressed by Charles
a. douglas, then ATTORNEY for the
Harranza government. had accepted
the draft which was made a part of
1ne committees record last week
he claimed the payment was on a
oasis of expenses of So a dav and
said he had received no other nav.
ment of any sort.
Dr. 1upper said he had approved
the pursuit of Villa bv Pershine and
regretted it had not been more suc.
cessful. He believed intervention
last resort" ~
l,r. Tupner read to the committee
letter from DR.. Douglas. saying
REIMBURSEMENT was due him as he
nad worked ably for the cause OF
the revolution. -
IN cross examination DR.. Turner
ss'n tnere were numerous provisions
81 the Mexican constitution of 1917
ne could not approve. DEVELOPMENT
OF education has not heen as rand
as ne expected. he said.