Evening star., 1939-08-01
Letter From Cardena,
Given 10 Roosevelt
By Ambassador
Believed to Contuin
Proposals Concerning
Seized Oil Lands
By the Associated Press.


Mexican Ambassador Castillo Ma
jero took President Roosevelt a let
ter from President Cardenas of
Mexico today, apparently dealing
with the controversy over expro-
priated oil properties in Mexico.
Ambassador Najera has announced
he was offering the American oil
companies a new basis for settle
ment of their appropriation claims.
Before going to the White House he
conferred with Sumner Welles, Tn
dersecretary of State.
Mr.. Welles emphasized, however,
that Mr.. Roosevelt was not to be
handed proposals which the MeXi-
can government might make to the
oil companies. That, he said. is
matter between Mexico and the oil
companies direct.
His statement was taken to mean
that the President was not to be
asked to mediate the controversy,
negotiations of which were reported
last week at low point.
PROBE approval Forecast.
Meanwhile, Chairman Pittman,
Democrat, of Nevada, of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee pre-
dicted today that the committee
would act favorably tomorrow on a
proposal to investigate allegations
of American assistance in the sale of
oil seized in Mexico.
Senator Nicely, Democrat, of West
Virginia, and Senator Bridges, Re-
publican, of New Hampshire, sub
mitted resolutions yesterday asking
for an inquiry. AS the clerk fin
ished reading Senator Neely's pro-
posal, Senator Guffey, Democrat, of
Pennsylvania, arose and urged it's
adoption.
Senator Bridges had read to the
Senate Saturday newspaper clip
pings linking Senator Guffey's name
with persons alleged to have nego-
tiated sale of Mexican oil seized on
American properties.
Il want to assure my colleagues
in the Senate that I have nothing
to conceal" Senator Guffey said,
land I want the fullest and most
complete investigation possible given
this matter"
envoy Authorized to Act.
Senator Bridges said he was de
lighted that the administration has
recognized the seriousness of the
Mexican oil situation and that one
of their spokesmen has introduced
a resolution"
Senator Neelys proposal asked an
investigation of reports concerning
the activities of certain American
citizens with the Mexican govern
ment in connection with the sale,
barter or exchange of Mexican oil"
Senator Bridges asked an inves-
tigation of allegations that "the
appropriated property of American
citizens has been sold, traded or
bartered to certain foreign powers
with the aid, assistance and con-
nivance of American citizens"
The Bridges resolution also said
it was alleged that certain Amer
ican citizens, members of the Con-
gress of Industrial Organization and
the Non-Partisan Labor League,
were active in promoting the expro-
priation" and that certain of the
individuals involved in the trans
actions have been large contribu-
tors to political campaigns in the
United States"
One paragraph OF the resolution
said:
ut is alleged that a certain Of
fetal or officials of the United States
Government have appeared in Mex
leo and have made public state
ments to the effect that the expro-
priation of the said property of
certain American citizens was in
accord with the social objectives
of the New Deal"