The New York herald., 1921-07-09
TWO us. WARSHIPS
TO LEAVE TAMPICO
Orders Are Issued to Allay
Suspicious of Mexican
Government.
TO STAY WITHIN CALL
American Oil Companies
Still Producing, but
Storing Product.
HUGHES ANSWERS LABOR
GOmpers Told Presence of Ves-
sells Has Nothing to Do With
Union Issue.
HUGHES ANSWERS LABOR
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washiurfou ID. C.. IuIy a.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. July 8. y
American war vessels, the Cleveland
and the Sacramento, recently assigned
to service at Tampico have been or
dered away, 1t became known from
official sources to-day. The orders are
understood to be given for the purpose
of allaying Mexican suspicious that a
Tampico, resulting in reawakened agi-
tation against all things American.
According to information which the
State Department has received there
Is some misrepresentation concerning
the action taken by American oil COM
panies in the district They have not
ceased drilling for oil or stopped pro-
ducing oil. They are not transporting
It, What they Will do when their stor-
age facilities are exhausted is not
known.
The result of the immediate situation
is that not nearly so many men are out
and imminent possibility of outbreaks
and danger to American life or property
Is believed to have been allayed.
The sending of the warships to Tam
pico was merely a precautionary meas
ure, and apparently they have served
their purpose. Both vessels have sailed
in and out of Tampico harbor from time
TO time. so there is nothing unusual
In their presence. the unusual feature
being the situation which warranted
their appearance. While sailing away
from Tampico they will not be far off.
and will be in position to render as
sistance to Americans should any be
required
Secretary Hughes. in replying to-day
to protests of labor leaders against
sending warships to Tampico. wrote to
Samuel Gompers, president of the Pan
American Federation of Labor. that
''the presence of the ships has nothing
whatever to do with labor unions or
with disputes between employers and
employees"
1t is simply precautionary measure
for the purpose of assuring adequate
protection to the lives and property of
American citizens" he said at is
hoped, of course, that this protection
will be accorded by the local authori-
ties"
Gompers protest was based on tele-
gram fsom f. c. Dawson and John
Kelly, representatives of the Interna-
tiona Association Of Machinists. who
are attending the Mexican Federation of
Labor convention at Orizaba. The tele-
gram requested Mr. Gompers to enter
protest TO the Government against the
statement in Mexico that American wal
ships are at Tamplco to fight labor
unions" and to protest against lies Of
petroleum interests"
Gompers. in communicating with Sec
retary Hughes, said that from informa-
tion which had come to him II was "a
fair inference that the fact that our
warsliips are now at Tampico Is being
exploited by the employing interests
there to the effect that these war vessels
are at Tampico for the avowed purpose
of overawing the workers who are now
engaged in a lockout imposed upon
them"
The warships were ordered TO the
Mexican port early this week by the
Navy Department Secretary DENLY ex-
planned that information had reached
the Department that labor troubles were
likely in the Tampco district because
of the shutting down OF American oil
activities. due to the new Mexican oil
tax and that the warships were ordered
TO the port to protect American lives and
property should it be necessary.