File No. 812.512/380.
Vice Consul Bevan to the Secretary of State.
Tampico, July 30, 1914.
Colonel Nafarrate, chief military official in Tampico, called on this office this evening and advised that all the business houses in Tampico would be forced to pay a war tax regardless of nationality. He laid stress on the fact that it was the business that was being taxed and not the owners of the business. I requested that he give the list of American and Spanish firms and the amounts assessed before trying [Page 753] to collect same which he agreed to do. He also agreed to allow me seventy-two hours in which to place the matter before the Department for instructions before he would force the payment. Most of the firms have expressed their willingness to abide by the advice of this office regard to payment, will advise Department fully as soon as lists are received.