File No. 812.6363/143.
The Acting Secretary of State to Vice Consul Bevan.
Washington, November 8, 1914, 2 p.m.
Your No. 1248. State to appropriate authorities the view of this Government that provisions of decree of General Aguilar of July 1, 1914, should not be applied to American citizens who acquired title or interest in lands in State of Vera Cruz or instituted or carried on proceedings looking to such acquirement during the Huerta regime in strict conformity with and under regularly established and applicable previously existing proceedings or acquirements and that American citizens having interests so incepted or acquired should have reasonable opportunity to make proof that in acquiring such interests they conformed to such laws.
This statement however is not to be understood as applying to persons who claim directly or indirectly title or interest in oil lands which they have acquired since April 20, 1914, by reason of cancellation of contracts, leases or other forms of conveyance or by reason of confiscation or taking by de facto authorities of interests in oil lands in which American citizens or other foreigners are interested on ground of default in contractual obligations or noncompliance with legal requirements provided such default or noncompliance was unavoidable because of military operations or political disturbances in Mexico.