File No. 812.6363/55.
The Secretary of State to Consul Miller.
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.