On the assumption of power on 19 December 1908, Gómez presented the country with an economic plan to rehabilitate it after his predecessor's chaos. An important element in this plan rested on a healthy and striving mining industry, which would spearhead economic development and provide the government with an independent source of income. Thus, from the very beginning the importance of this sector of the economy was recognized. It is therefore no surprise to find that keen interest was aroused when several British oil companies, after lengthy negotiations, entered the country. The government was well aware of the importance and value of oil, and was determined to get a fair return from the companies, as well as to establish effective control over the industry. We find that recommendations of this nature were made very early during Gómez's regime by people closely associated in the Cabinet with the oil industry, and that unsuccessful attempts were made prior to 1919 to increase oil production. Despite his personal links with the industry, the possibility that it would provide Gómez with an independent source of income made him aware that in order to ensure his own political survival he would need to get as much out of the companies as possible in taxes. Thus from 1914 onwards the government pursued a consistent policy of securing a larger tax return from the companies.