Ref urn of Oilfields Demanded

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 88, 14 April 1938, Page 7

Ref urn of Oilfields Demanded

Strong British Protest Delivered CONFISCATION CHARGE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, April 12. The British Note sent to Mexico cn April 8 has been released. It demands the return of the expropriated oilfield», Britain does not question Mexico’s general right to expropriate in the public interest on payment of adequate compensation, but this principle, says th* Note, does not justify essentially arbitrary expropriation. The Note asserts that the Labour Board imposed an unjustified award. His Majesty’s Government is satisfied that the results of non-compliance with the award do not warrant such a dras tic and far-reaching measure and find* difficulty in escaping the conclusion* that the real motive was a political do sire to acquire Mexican ownership ana control. Expropriation was tantamount to confiscation under the veil of legality based cn labour issues. The consequences had been denial of justice and transgression of in.tcEßatonal law. AjCily message says: Without British'approval, Mexico has made public the text of the British Note sent on April 9, in which Mexico is accused of expropriating the oil properties because of political reasons under the veil of legality, by basing them on labour issues. Britain requested that eventually the Note and the Mexican reply should be made public simultaneously, but Mexico apparently wanted the last word, at least momentarily, by publishing the reply by itself, which will probably be done on Tuesday.