File No. 812.6363/94.
The British Embassy to the Department of State.
memorandum.
On April 21 many of the oil employees had to leave the oil fields in consequence of imminent disorder. As a result many of the wells were left without any one to look after the interests of the owners. On some of these oil properties royalties were due and could not be paid. The non-payment of these royalties was due entirely to the fact that there was no one on the spot to pay them.
The British Government received representations on this subject and a communication was made to the State Department on the 16th May, which was favourably received. On the 20th the Secretary of State proposed that a telegram should be sent by the United States Government and the Representatives of Great Britain and the Netherlands at Washington to their respective Consuls at Tampico and Vera Cruz stating that the three governments were in negotiation on the subject. The British Government to which the text of this telegram was communicated by the British Embassy entirely concurred in the general principle laid down, namely that the status quo should be preserved which existed at the time that operations were abandoned and that persons or corporations, Mexican and foreign should be prevented from taking advantage of the disturbed condition which prevailed in the oil fields after April 21st.
Washington , May 25, 1914.