File No. 812.6363/292
The Secretary of State to Consul Dawson
Washington, July 26, 1917.
Sir: Referring to Vice Consul McHenry’s telegram of June 13, 5 p.m. stating that officials of the Mexican Government will not grant oil companies in your district permits to drill wells on properties leased by them since February 5, 1917, the date on which the new Mexican constitution was promulgated, the Department encloses herewith, for your information, a copy of a despatch dated July 9, [Page 1072] 1917, from the American Embassy at Mexico City, enclosing a translation of a note from the Mexican Minister of Industry and Commerce, in which he states that the Department of Petroleum, Mexico City, issued an order on June 24, to petroleum agencies, prohibiting until further notice, the issuance of permits for the sinking of petroleum wells located on lands leased since February 5, last.
I am [etc.]