New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-08
GunbOat Sent
By DENLY Stirs
Ire of Obregon
Mexico's President Quoted
as Saying Warship Can
Stay at Tampico Only
for a Limited Period
Explanation To Be Asked
Oil Companies Expected to
Fight Law Calling for
Unearned Wage Payments
By George E. Hyde
Special Gable to The Tribune

Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
MEXICO CITY, July 1.-THE arrival
of the United States gunboat Sacra-
mento at Tampico yesterday has caused
some uneasiness among Americans
resident here and in outlying districts
because it is likely to be interpreted
as a step preliminary to intervention
Officials of the Mexican government
evidently are dspleased with the ar
rival of the warship. President Obre-
gon and member of his Cabinet are
quoted as saying that the ship will be
allowed to remain only for the time
established by international law as
visiting period and that then the
United States will be asked to explain.
Excelsior, in an editorial article,
warns the government and the public
to be caNtious ard recalls that in 1914
a group of warships arrived off Vera
Cruz as preliminary to the occupa-
tlon of that port. The newspaper
points out that a serious situation
might be precipitated by real or i'm
aginary disorders" and adds that con-
conditions now do not warrant the
presence of the ship.
officials generally blame the oil
companies for the present crisis in
Iampico. President Obregon has open
~ accused the companies of closing
their wells and stopping expectation
IN order to bring pressure to bear on
the Mexican Congress to make it re-
peal the recent additional tax on ex-
ports. The President quotes statistics
to show that the producers would be
able to continue operations under pres
ent conditions with profit.
Wreck Delays Reports
Reports from Tampico are vague
because of wreck between Tampico
and San Luis Potosi, in which, one
uncontirmed report says, eleven were
killed. The wreck, which blocked
traffic, is said to have been due to
heavy rains. The advices received here
say that several thousand workmen in
the oil fields were laid off by the oil
companies when the wells shut down
and that the presence of these unem-
ployed has raised the possibility of
industrial troubles General Arnulfo
Gomez, commanding the Tampico gar
rlson, had long conference with
President Obregon on the situation.
The idle workers appealed to Presi-
oSHt OpTeSon 10 force the oil COM
panles to pay them three months
wages, in accordance with the existing
labor laws, as the closing of the wells
is regarded by the men as unwar-
ranted. President Obregon is reported
to have instructed the state governors
to force the oil companies to comply
with this provision of the law, but to
date the companies have not been in
structed to make this payment. A
majority of the companies are expect
ed to fight this law, both in the courts
and through diplomatic channels.
Besides the dangers of industrial
violence the authorities in Tampico
fear fire at the wells and also are
worried over the cessation in revenues
from the tax on oil. The decrease in
revenue already is being felt IN Mexico
City, as employees in several govern
ment departments are unpaid
Gunboat Causes Stir
MEXICO CITY July (By The Asso-
ciated Press ).-The anchoring of the
American gunboat Sacramento off the
mouth of the Panuco River at Tampico
yesterday caused excitement in the
port. Later in the day the commander
Of the Warship visited Claude l. Daw-