Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-31
j. S. OIL INTERESTS
IN MEXICO UPHELD
BY SUPREME COURT
Claims TO Lands Held Prior 70
May, 1917, Cannot be Cues
toned, is Ruling.
INTERPRETs ARTICLE 27

~ Associated Press 20 Every Evening.
MezieO City. August, Aug. 2fs--Oni-
cials Of the Mexican Department u
Commerce and Industry have been en-
joined by the Supreme Court for de-
nouncing rights to OH iands held ~
the Texas Company prior to May I,
1917. This decision, handed down last
night BY unanimous vote Of the court,
probably sets precedent for the
courts action in dealing with nearly
$50 cases calling in question the effect
Of Article p Of the Mexican constitB-
ton
The Texas Company appealed to the
court for an amparO. or preliminary
certificate issued 10 the holder u p
land claim, pending the issuance of
pre-efnption papers. This action was
taken to prevent the government from
announcing claims held ~ the conn
pany. II the other oil companies
which have brought similar actions
are victorious, IL is generally believed
that the decisions VIII constitute the
courts definition of Article q, and its
Interpretation Of that article az being
non-retroactive in its effects. and thst
claims held TO oil lands before May 4,
AVA q cannot DC aNtsllQNtU-
Newspapers here generally believed
the decision handed down last night -
Of far reaching innr ortance. and vir-
tualiy establishes a rr-ing BY Mex
ico's high st judicial tribunal az % the
non-retroactivity of article 27. In some
quarters, however. there was doubt
today that the decision was al definite
in that respect as reports would in
dicate. Several local oil men decIar-
ed they would withhold their opinion
until careful reading disclosed the ex-
act phraseoiogy Of the courts decision
regarding subsoil rights on lands held
both IN fee and By lease.
There is no doubt, however. that the
action of the supreme court win have
statutory effect Of indicating at least
that the government is making a seri-
Gus effort to clear UP controversial
questions.
An appeal for an injunction IN a
case similar 70 that brought by the
Texas Company was taken UP by the
court today. the Mexican Gulf oil
G mpany being the plaintiff in the
action.
/ Heads Of American oil compa ufes
who are comforting with governmen.
officials here declined last nieht %
/ comment On the decision. and they
we're silent as 20 their conference yes
I terday with President Ohregou and
Adoifo de Ia Huerta. secretary u ths
I treasury. President Obregon stated
I last night that his conversation with
the oil men was brief, and extremely
cordial He added that the decision
OF the supreme court was merely coin
cidental with the visit Of the Ameri-
cans and was influenced by their arri-
val in this Cit. The conference. be-
tween the petroleum executives and
I Secretary de IA Huerta continued to-
l day.
| The suit decided yesterday was
brought by the Texas Company in
/ 1913 following the announcement Of
rights held by that company on a par
eel Of Land at Zacamixtla. south ~
I Tampico. Orders for such denOunce-
ment had been issued under the pro-
visions Of a decree issued by Presi-
I dent Carranza on August 8. 1918.
which called upon oil companies 70
manifest their holdings. The Texas
| Company failed 70 make such a man
/ ifest. and the land was declared for
/ feited. The company sought TO estab-
| lish rs legal right against such action
I by the government.