The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-20
CAUTION ADVISED IN RECOGNIZING
 MEXICAN REGIME
American Interests Ask Ad- vice as to Whom in Mexico They Should Pay Cur
 rent Taxes
By Associated Press

Washington, May 19.-Caution in ex- tending recognition or support to any Mexican faction instrumental in the over throw of Carranza was urged in the state department today by representa- tives of various industrial groups having interests in Mexico, and by former dip- lomats Definite assurances of the Mex ican party now in power as to its attitude toward foreigners and foreign invest inents should be first obtained, it was held.
 Among those who conferred with Sec retary Colby on the Mexican situation was former Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson, former Charge d'Affaires Nelson OShaughnessy, E. l.. Doheny, represent ing Tampico oil industries; Harold Wal ker of the Mexican Petroleum Company, Cornelius Kelly, Anaconda Copper Com pany, William Loeb Jr.. American Smelting and Refining Company, George Carnahan and Fredercks Walrous. rep resenting various agricultural enterprises and Burton Wilson, representing bank ing interests.
 State department officials also were requested to advise American interests as to whom in Mexico they should pay current taxes.
 VITAL TO OIL MEN
 The question at issue is of more imne- diate decision regarding the payment cf the mining men or other operators III Mexico It was explained that until some more definite ruling is received exporters of oil or mine products may be asked to pay their taxes either to the authorities actually in control at the ports or to the de facto authorities in the national capl- tai.
 The oil interests represented by MT. Doheny are confronted with an imme- diate dtcision regarding the payment or more than S2OO0,000 in taxes. For several years practically all oil producers in the Tampico region have paid tribute to Manuel Palaez, but federal taxes have been paid in Mexico City as a matter or convenience. The law and custom ol Mexico provide that they shall be palu at the federal tax office at Tampieo. Palaez has asserted his whole -hearted lupport of the movement of Generals Obregon and Gonzales, but in the ap- sencs of a better definition of authority in Mexico the oil producers have looked to their own government for guidance.
 NO DIRECT ADVICE
 No direct advice was given the delega- ton by the Secretary of State, but he Is understood to have told his callers the question would be given consideration Tn the meantime, however, pr. Aware Tore Diaz, the revolutionary agent here, issued statement giving recent ruling of Salvador Alvarado, provisional treas urer of the provisional government, re- garding payment Of taxes. The state ment urged taxpayers to make theli payinents to the authorities legally au- thorjzed to receive them and give the necessary receipts, inasmuch as pay ments made to unauthorized officials \ whether military or civil would not be / deemed legal by the government, anu would necessitate a separate payment.
 A message today from Mexico City to revolutionary agents here said it was un- derstood the man chosen May A as pres ident ad interim would select coalition cabinet calculated to unify the various factions.
 { Carranza, so far as reports today lndi- cated. was making his way northwaro through the state of Vera Cruz. General Guagjarado, formerly an officer of the organization of Hurdles under President Diaz, was reported as the commander of the detachment pursuing the former president.