File No. 812.6363/105.
[Untitled]
Tampico, June 5, 1914, 10 p.m.
All of the oil company representatives in Tampico to-day received letter from Stephen II. Toot of Corona Petroleum Company and acting secretary Oil Association, Tampico, including copy of letter dated June 4th just received by Oil Association from Mr. Spieler, German president of chamber of commerce. Letter states that president of chamber of commerce was called before General Caballero who informed him that the new Government needed large sum of money for payment of arms and ammunition for the army; that a commission was appointed to study and designate the equitable sums which each business should pay; that on account of paralyzation of commerce during last six months and the forced loans of Federals before the evacuation of Tampico that the Constitutional Government had only been able to raise approximately about three hundred forty thousand pesos although all of this amount had not yet been [Page 777] subscribed; that said sum is not sufficient to meet the expenses and it was thought to assess the petroleum industry the balance needed, which is about two hundred thousand pesos. On strength of these representations, Mr. Toot, British subject, called meeting of Oil Association for Saturday night.