812.6363/2085: Telegram
The Director of the Association of Producers of Petroleum in Mexico (Stevens) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28—11:10 a.m.]
The following telegram has this evening been sent to the President and Secretary of Industry, Commerce and Labor in Mexico City:
“The petroleum companies have received copies of a proposed form of confirmatory concession given by your department to our representatives on Monday evening, December 20th. We are also advised of the expressed intention of your Government to confirm rights acquired prior to May 1st, 1917. Study of the proposed form of confirmatory concession confirms the conviction expressed in the memorandum handed to you by the committee of the companies on March 23d last for the reason therein stated that the present law does not adequately provide for recognition of rights acquired prior to May 1st, 1917. The companies have therefore decided today that they cannot safely accept confirmatory concession under the present law. In view of these circumstances the companies respectfully suggest the advisability of proroguing the period allowed by article 15 of the law in order that modifications therein may be made effective which will harmonize the language of the law with the expressed intention of your Government.
We renew, Mr. Secretary, the assurance of our distinguished consideration.—Compañia Mexicana Holandesa La Corona’, S. A.; Compañia Mexicana de Petroleo ‘E1 Aguila’, S. A.; Compañia Mexicana Productora y Refinadora de Petroleo ‘La Atlántica’, S. A.; Compañia Petrolera del Agwi; Compañia Petrolera Los Chijoles; Cortez Aguada Petroleum Corporation; Huasteca Petroleum Company; Humble Oil and Refining Company; Island Oil and Transport Corporation; Mexican Gulf Oil Company; Mexican Petroleum Company; Tuxpam Petroleum Company; New England Fuel Oil Company; Tamiahua Petroleum Company; Standard Oil Company of California; Richmond Petroleum Company; Standard Oil Company of New Jersey; Compañia Transcontinental de Petroleo, S. A.”