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Show 1 3. OILMEN FI TOKO Franklin K. Lane Testifies They Have Dealt Honestly Honest-ly in Securing Rights WASHINGTON, May 10. Americans Ameri-cans who have gone into petroleum development In Mexico, "have done It' with exactly the methods a3 they would have gone Into It in Texas or California," Franklin K. Lane, former secretary of the Intorior, testified today to-day before the Mexican Investigating committee. Mr. Lane Is now vico-president vico-president of the Mexican Petroleum company. Americana are operating on lands purchased from private Mel-can Mel-can owners with rights to drill for oil incorporated in the deeds, Mr. Lane said. He denied statements made, before be-fore the committee recently by John LInd, once President Wilson's personal representative in Mexico, that Carran-za's Carran-za's attempt to transfer the ownership of Mexican oil deposits into tho hands of tho Mexican government "corresponded "corres-ponded with similar procedure of the United States in installing oil leasing laws on tho public domain." The United States has never attempted at-tempted to confiscate oil on privately owned land, Mr. Lane said. "Mexico, of course, has first claim on her own resources," the former secretary said, adding that "ho protest pro-test has ever been made so far as I know to any regulation lmposod on tho exploitation of oil on other public domain." |