Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-10
MEXICAN OFFICIALS ARE
BITTER AGAINST OIL MEN
Openly Accuse Producers OF Al.
tempting to Embroil Country
In War With u. s.
CRUISERS LEA We TANPICO
Withdrawal Of Ships Declared 10
nave Relieved Situation Whicl,
Might Have Proved Embnrrass
Ing at Any Moment.
CRUISERS LEAVE TANIpICo
lBy Associated Press.

MENlCO CITY, July o-Thc with
dlawal OF the United States cruiso,.
sacramento and Cleveland from Tau.
pico has relieved a situation which
officials here declare might hay.
proved embarrassing any momcp,
The presence OF the American w,-
ships with their quotas or nnrin..
although their mission was declared
10 be friendly. was fraught-with real
clements OF danger which xor.
quickly perceived By the Mexican
government officials. who took nj,
possible precautions to prevent
trouble
Thcre was always the danger, they
pointed out. that some one. either
uhwiscly counselcd or acting with
misguided patriotism, might COMM,
an overt act which would cause l..
landing OF the marines with subse-
huent unplcatantncss. 1t is generally
believed here that fear OF mi.
danger prompted the United state,
authorities to order withdrawal OF
the vessels
Many Itmmors out.
The rumor factories OF Mexico CIV
have nccn working overtime during
the last week. Reports from the
Tampico region have been startling
and the fact that the press bulletins
from the various governmental de-
partinents We're some what contradic.
tory gave substance to false reports
that under ordinary circumstance,
could have been branded az such
g..,,
l"ssencd and the editorial signs u.
relief today wcr" many. but Their. is
no apparent int!Ination that the
Mexican government intends to re-
cede from the position IL has taken
on the recent increase In the export
tax on oil. which prompted the oil
properties TO shut down The tax
became effective July and the gov
eminent expects TO be paid when /,
becomes due. which viii be August
20. such imposts are 10 be paid on
the twcnty-hfth OF the month fol-
lowing the month they become due.
The government declares the tax in
Just and that protective economies
demand it's retention. notwithstand-
ing declaration or the oil men that
II is conilscatory and prohibItiyc.
There is also the question OF the in
IDENTITIES which IL is Understood
tie government wishes TO secure for
discharged employees of the oil prop
critics. Mexican law makes provision
for the payment OF three months
salary FOR pcrcmptory discharge.
hG, thus far nothing on this phase OF
III. situation has been taken up
through diplomatic channels
Hitter Against OIL Men.
various government officials are
vehement and bitter in their charges
against the oil men. who are openly
accused OF intriguing against Mexico
and attempting to embroil 1t in war
with the United States General
Cables. chief OF the cabinet. who re-
Gently returned from an extensive
tour OF the oil regions. has been par
t!cularly outspokcn. and in state
ncnt issued last night said: Mexico
is an absolutely free and sovereign
country and Is, therefore, in a posi-
ton TO dictate laws favorable to it's
interests. Our Constitution provides
ample protection to all Foreigners hut
it also specifies their obligations"
referring 10 the labor situation,
General Gales declared: The in
famous Vaccinations OF the oil men
have failed In their purpose to alien
ate the workmen from the govern
mcnt."
Meanwhile the oil men also have
had their innings in tho newspapers
md have published exhaustive lists
Of figures showing how IL is impossi-
BILE to operate at a profit under the
recent tax decree.
The Department Of Industry and
Commerce issued a statement today
by It's chief petroleum INSPECTOR i'm
Tampico to the effect that 200. 400
| tons Of oil were exported during the
first seven days Of July. representing
| no material decrease In such exporta-
tons. The statement added that
| many requests were being received
for permits TO drill new wells. and
| that more than 1000 men now were
| out of work as a result of the shut
down in the Tampico region. Other
sources of information have csu-
mated the unemployed to number
| from 10000 to 10000 men.