File No. 812.6363/107.
[Untitled]
Tampico, June 12, 1914, 10 p.m.
Referring to my June 12, 8 p.m. Placing oil producing district under General Candido Aguilar removes [sic] problem of collecting voluntary loans from foreign oil companies, Tampico, and vigilance of foreign consuls and foreign war vessels. It is believed Aguilar will attempt to repeat his success of last November when he successfully extorted 22,000 Mexican dollars from the Aguila and Huasteca Petroleum Companies after promises made by him to Admiral Fletcher and Consul of the United States at Tampico. Those two companies paid them, and all companies may now have to pay voluntary contributions and not dare to even report same because field operations, wells, transportation oil to coast will be completely at mercy of General Aguilar. Revolutionists will probably not demand forced loans or war tax from companies but will spare no [Page 778] pains to collect voluntary loans, and diplomatic protests and promises will avail nothing more than in last November.