Show MEXICANS i MALIGNED re vf 15 CHARGE iI q kr 1 Oil Operator to toH H Fore ore in Protest Protest- Against b if fr r d e of Ur U U. S. S Peo P People Plc fV t Toward LaL Latin n Republic RepublicA A ti By David Lawrence R 19 1920 br hT The S Salt Jt Laic L Washington D. D C. C March 2 Mexico h Is s not riot without friends in tho ho United states States but when an oil operator bobs rup p as as s a a. defender of President C Carranza 1 Land and nd the Mexican constitution and says sas saysa si a false raise idea has been convoyed about the petroleum controversy naturally tho national capital sits up and tal takes es notice Joseph F F. o Guffey of or Pittsburgh h Is the tho new champion of ot Mexican national- national nationalism ism Mam and his remarks Just Issued in the form tonn of a a. statement after a seven ven weeks' weeks trip through Mexico have provoked pro- pro 0 ked Interest not merely merel because Mr Ir- Ir Guffey Is Js an Intimate friend of at Attorney Allor- Allor n ney y General A. A Mitchell Palmer and andone one ono of or the boosters for tho the litters latter s presidential candidacy and is persona grata at the White House but because she h Is himself president of tho the Atlantic Gulf Gult Oil on corporation and the head of ot several other oil companies operating below V elo the Rio Grande Our Ideas AH UI Wrong roDJ We e have 0 endeavored at at atall all times says Mr r. r Guffey to work in harmony harmon with the Mexican n government go and have had lad no difficulty in obtaining obtain In the Jlee- Jlee necessary essary permits for drilling on our prop- prop lerty 1 erty To Indicate the tho extent and character character char char- acter actor of or our company's op operations I I may ma say sav wo we have e a a. potential production production tion of or barrels daily dally from three wells one one of or them rated the largest in tho the world and are arc not constructing I pipe lines to tho those c wells But Mr Ir Guffey starts start right o out with h the flat Hat s statement that there is a widespread misapprehension In the United States concerning conditions in Mexico and there is a belief bellor almost universal that th Americans Americana and American Ameri Amen can investors particularly oil all companies companies companies com com- and their theil properties are being discriminated against persecuted and their properties confiscated by the Mexican government Accused d Mr rr Guffey says say most of or the stories about bandits and robberies are arc and if It traced to their so sources would undoubtedly be found to have emanated from propagandists interested in n forcing American Intervention In Mexico the chief offenders in this re- re are so called associations for tho the In Mex- Mex protection of or American rights ico This is an repeated oft-repeated charge on the part of at persons not interested in oil all wells veils but is js something new from an anoil oil all II operator and doubtless the national nation association for tor tho the protection of ot American Amerlan Ameri- Ameri can an can rights will have s some me comment on Mr 11 Ir Guffey's observations in due duo time Mr rr Guffey goes on to say ay that the Mexicans are arc not attempting to con- con all properties developed des and aim op- op operated rated crated by American n compan companies for It If such uch were Its purpose It could easily double and treble the tho export t tax of ot r 11 cents a t. t barrel which was collected on all oil all exported d from Mexico In 1919 the Mexican government received a revenue re from such Much taxes last year ear of about pesos pesos less less than 5 5 per percent percent percent cent of oC tho the total government taxes from all sources Simple Sn Guffey Mr r Guffey claims that recognition of oC the Mexican l constitution would have hae meant the payment of oC ani only last year a small sum suns when the enormous annual Mexican oil production Is con con- He Ie says that all an any companies companies companies com com- have o to do to conform to the Mexican l requirements is to recognize th the constitution denounce all concessions concessions concessions conces conces- and leases lease obtained prior to its adoption and take out new permits Ho lie adds that his own company and subsidiaries are arc practically tho the only American concerns which have accepted tho the Mexican constitution and because of or this no interference has been ex experienced OX- OX in carrying out development work President Carranza declares Mr r. r Guffey Gurre I regard as an intelligent high typo constructive and honest statesman statesman-a. a man who has a a. definite I objective and Is making rapid lapid and systematic systematic i progress toward its attain attain- attain I ment He Hc has done moro more for tor Mexico and Mexican people than an any other president In Its his history tor Iho Those hose c Comparisons Mr arr Ir Guffey says saS Mexico Is prosperous travel is Is safe ae and that order is being restored as rapidly and effectively as One l lId Id r reasonably a expect But But But- that isn't Isn't Mr Guffey who is a Democratic leader leater in Pennsylvania doesn't stop at a description of Mexican Mexican can call conditions and a n. tribute to the Mexican president lie takes issue w with witha Ilha a recent speech b by Governor I owden Lowden who he lie says is quoted In press dispatches dispatches dispatches dis dis- patches as lS referring to lO condi conditions in Mexico as deplorable Probably an investigation would show says Mr Ir Guffey that there have been more holdups robberies and murders in Illinois during Governor Lawden's term as governor than In the whole of or Mexico during a like period All this Is a a. new now dint of or view from froman an oil operator and incidentally a radically different view from Cram that thal e ex expressed ex- ex expressed II pressed in notes sent by our department department department depart depart- ment of ot state to Mexico in recent months wherein it was claimed that I conditions were deplorable that Mexico Mexico Mex Mex- ico was trying to confiscate properties properties properties proper proper- ties of ot American oil all companies and I that p protection wasn't being furnished Americans operating in Mexico exico What hat It ln Henn It Is time concludes Mr 1 Guffey that tho the t ople and business interests of OC the United States began cultivating an appreciation of these people people peo peo- plo living south of tho the Rio Grande There ma may or may not be significance significance significance cance in In Mr Guffey's statement issued on his return to 10 Washington With Mr Lansing's s departure and Ambassador dor dol Fletchers Fletcher's resignation President Wilson Nilson may be bo getting ready to repudiate ate much nuch of at what has been said on tho the Mexican question by state department officials Or it may mean as some oil men mensa sa say that Mr 2 Guffey's statement Is his comeback against other oil companies who have havo bitterly denounced him for accepting permits from the Mexicans to drill wens wells when others couldn't get them Tho The next few days das ought to tell what is Js back of at It all |