File No. 812.6363/57d. The Secretary of State to Special Agent Carothers. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 8, 1914, 9 p. m. Recent events have impressed upon the Department the great necessity of establishing and maintaining a reliable means of communication between this Government's ships outside the bar near Tampico and its consular representative on the mainland, for humanitarian reasons as well as for those of policy. Many representations have been made to the Department during the last few days by those conducting oil operations in and about Tampico that it is absolutely necessary for them to get money into the hands of their representatives, in order that they may pay salaries to employees, and royalties to lessors for the purpose of preventing confiscation of properties owned by them or cancellation of leases resulting from alleged or actual failure to comply with their contracts. You will represent to General Carranza the necessity of establishing communication between Tampico and the fleet, so that the lives and interests of foreigners, including Americans, may be properly protected; and say that it is desired to station a ship with wireless apparatus installed thereon near Tampico in order to establish the necessary means of communication, and you will request him to give his assent thereto. You will also request his permission to send small despatch boats between the fleet and Tampico, so that money and messages may be taken from beyond the bar into Tampico and vice versa. You will say to General Carranza that no offensive measures are contemplated by this Government, in order that he may rest assured that the suggested plan of communication between the fleet and this Government's representative on the mainland is made for the purposes above stated, and with a desire to assist in preserving the important oil fields in and around Tampico. BRYAN. File No. 812.6363/61a. The Acting Secretary of State to the British Ambassador. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 8, 1914. MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: I enclose herewith a copy of a telegram which the Department sent to its representative at El Paso, Texas, on the 8th instant, pointing out the great necessity of establishing and maintaining a reliable means of communication between this Government's ships outside the bar near Tampico and its consular representative on the mainland, for humanitarian reasons as well as for those of policy, special attention being called to the desire to assist in preserving the important oil fields in and around Tampico. I should be glad if you would communicate to the British Minister in Mexico City the text of the telegram, and ask him to make such representations to General Huerta as may induce the latter to consent to the establishment of communication between Tampico and the American fleet, on the lines indicated in the telegram. I am [etc.] File No. 812.6363/62. ROBERT LANSING. The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State. BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, May 9, 1914. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: I hasten to thank you for your letter of yesterday's date in which you enclose copy of a telegram sent by the State Department to its representative at El Paso, Texas, in regard to the establishment of communication between Tampico and the American Fleet; and to inform you in reply that I sent a telegram last night in the sense desired to Sir L. Carden. I am [etc.] File No. 812.6363/55. CECIL SPRING RICE. The Secretary of State to Consul Miller. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 14, 1914, Noon. Your May 8, 8 p. m. Department can not advance funds to private interests, or assume responsibility for any arrangements you make to protect them, but is in sympathy with your efforts to extend aid to legitimate and responsible oil operators under present conditions. When it becomes necessary for you to pay off laborers to prevent losses and complications to American companies, and advances for such purposes are not secured to your satisfaction, telegraph Department and it will be pleased to assist you in every proper manner by communicating with the home offices of the companies. Your May 8, 12 noon. Department did not desire to issue specific instructions for you to assist in the landing of oil operators or in securing for them permission to proceed to the scene of their respective operations, but thought you would understand that you were to do whatever you thought proper to facilitate the return of these men and the renewal of oil operations, provided the conditions on the ground did not endanger the lives of foreigners who reentered Mexico for the purpose of operating their oil fields in order to enable them to comply with their contracts and leases with Mexican owners. Department does not understand next to last sentence in your May 8, 12 noon. What is the character of the support required from Government? Do everything possible to secure justice to American interests which you refer to as abandoned two weeks ago. BRYAN. File No. 812.6363/64a. The Secretary of State to Special Agent Carothers. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Navy Department confirms report that Constitutionalists have captured Tampico. About eighty-five alien refugees at Galveston desire to be returned at once to Tampico. Owners of Tampico oil wells consider it very important that their American employees be allowed to return at once provided they can be guaranteed adequate protection. Some of the wells are running wild and it is quite likely that storage capacity of tanks will soon be exhausted. It is also quite important that this Government be permitted to station a vessel at Tampico in order to facilitate radio communication. Please take these matters up at once with General Carranza who is now supposed to be at Durango. If necessary you should go there by first train. These matters are of great importance and you may say to General Carranza that this Government will appreciate prompt action on his part. File No. 812.6363/66. Consul Miller to the Secretary of State. BRYAN. [Telegram-Extract.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Tampico, May 14, 1914, 8 p. m. Tampico yesterday about noon. Constitutionalist force under General Pablo Gonzalez occupied Perfect order being preserved. Guaranties assured to all foreigners to return to their business. File No. 812.6363/64. MILLER. The Secretary of State to Consul Miller." [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 15, 1914, 5 p. m. State to local authorities that Department is informed that some. American citizens who have been forced by recent disturbed conditions to leave vicinity of Tampico own leases on property that vicinity on which rentals are coming due very soon which cannot be paid now because of conditions prevailing and that it is expected that the authorities will perceive the justice of taking no action in forfeiture of leases until owners have had reasonable time to pay rent. BRYAN. 97 Same to the American Consul at Durango except changing words "local authorities " to "Carranza." File No. 812.6363/66. Consul Miller to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Tampico, May 15, 1914, 10 a. m. Department's May 14, 12 noon. Constitutional authorities assure me that all foreigners can safely return to their work and to their homes. Number oil men already on grounds preparing resume oper ations. MILLER. File No. 812.6363/69. [Telegram-Extract.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Tampico, May 17, 1914, 10 p. m. Department's May 15, 5 p. m. Officials Tampico powerless to prevent forfeiture leases as these are matters of private contract, and practically all leases are in state of Vera Cruz. Consulate has succeeded in arranging such leases as were brought to its notice but there is no question but that owners property can enforce forfeiture in cases in which payments are not made promptly. Department's May 14, noon, relative to Americans returning to oil fields. Americans are safe in Tampico provided there will be no future international complications but families and men should not return to oil fields until further notice. This Consulate has considered it safe (office reopened April 29th) for responsible oil men to return to Tampico to arrange affairs which have been abandoned. April 22 secured passes for number such men who had arrived off Tampico but having no boats with which bring them to Tampico from outside had to depend upon British naval officers who instead of assisting exerted every possible influence against such action. British Consul and British naval officers have exerted every possible influence to get all Americans out and to keep them out and have influenced large British oil company to discharge all American employees and officials; therefore Consulate requested to solicit British effort to obtain absolute control. Oil industry has been temporarily checked by capture Tampico by revolutionists but present situation is complicated as federal force which evacuated Tampico is now in Panuco District and it is generally believed prepared to destroy all oil wells if attempt is made to drive them out. File No. 812.6363/74. MILLER. Special Agent Carothers to the Secretary of State.98 [Telegram-Extract.] Torreon, May 20, 1914, 7 p. m. Carranza has no objection to the establishing of the wireless communication as requested by you May 8, 9 p. m. He has telegraphed General Gonzalez at Tampico to see if there is any local reason Communicated to the Secretary of the Navy and the British Ambassador May 23, against same. Expects reply today. He has further telegraphed Gonzalez to furnish full and adequate protection to foreigners and has informed him that many American employees will return to take care of oil wells. File No. 812.6363/70a. The Secretary of State to Consul Canada. [Telegrams.] CAROTHERS. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, We are conferring with British and Netherlands authorities with a view to securing an agreement which will prevent any person or corporation, Mexican or foreign, from taking advantage of the exceptional conditions in the oil districts in the matter of leases, royalties, and rentals, or other business enterprises during the disturbed period. We have no doubt that any injustice which has been done or may be done in these matters can be remedied through diplomatic negotiations. The British and Netherlands Governments are working in harmony with ours to preserve the status quo which existed at the time when the operators were compelled to abandon their wells. You may show this telegram to the British and Netherlands Consuls, who will receive similar instructions. Repeat to Tampico. File No. 812.6363/70b. BRYAN. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Repeat to Vice Consul of the Netherlands, Tampico, following telegram from the Netherlands Minister at Washington: Conform yourself following telegram sent today by Secretary of State to American Consul saying: [Quotes telegram to Consul Canada, May 20, 1914.] RAPPARD. BRYAN. File No. 812.6363/73. Consul Miller to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Tampico, May 21, 1914, 8 p. m. Constitutionalist forces have troops in Panuco and American companies are sending their American employees to work in fields; suggest oil workers be warned not to return until assured of employment, especially as Aguila Company and Corona Company, account instructions from London, do not wish to employ Americans in oil fields under present conditions and further state do not need them as field work will be shut down to large extent for Aguila Company especially. MILLER, |