File No. 812.512/719.
Consul General Hanna to the Secretary of State.
Monterey, July 13, 1915.
Sir: Referring to my telegram of this date, I have the honor to enclose herewith an English translation of the principal points of said decree, and to state that many Americans and foreigners, have called at this Consulate General requesting me to ask the Department to please do all that is possible to do to have this decree amended as relates to mining properties belonging to Americans and foreigners, especially such properties as are not producing dividends but have for a long time paid to the de facto government the regular taxes in spite of the fact that the owners thereof have been losing money.
It is believed that if Americans and foreigners, as well as many Mexicans, are required to pay the greatly increased tax, many of them will decline to pay anything. It is probable that in the sum total the Government will not receive any more from this source than they now receive by collecting a reasonable amount.
The majority of the mining properties in this part of Mexico have either been closed down entirely on account of revolutionary conditions, or, where they have operated at all, they have operated simply as a matter of charity toward their former employees in order to give them employment from which they could live. I know of no mining companies in this part of Mexico which are even making expenses; but very few of them are operating at all.
This decree has a very depressing effect upon mine owners.
I have [etc.]