Evening star., 1914-02-23
after the oJinaga victory. SIX weeks ago.
some rebel leaders say. would nave given
Villas troops great advantage
SENATE Unleash
IN MEXICAN CRISIS
Leaders Have No Present In
tention of Allowing Debate
on Subject.

ate will follow the policy adopted by the
President, ''watchful waiting" SO far as
the Mexican situation is concerned. was
the opinion of Senator Shively. acting
chairman Of the foreign relations COM
mittee.
After returning to the Capitol from the
White House. this afternoon, Senator
Shively said he anticipated no move on
the part Of the Senate with relation to
Mexico. or to the killing of William Ben
ton. the British citizen who was murder
ed or executed by Gen. Villa, according
to the varying reports from Mexico. He
said that a thorough investigation into
all, the facts surrounding the death Of
Benton was being made by the State
Department, and that until these facts
were available, there would be no action
taken, he believed.
Senator Shively was asked II the for
eign relations committee was considering
reporting a resolution calling for the
recognition Of Villa and the constitu-
tonalists as belligerents. He said that
no such resolution was before the COM
mtttee for action. He added that he saw
no reasons for calling a meeting of the
committee before its regular meeting time,
| Which Is Wednesday.
1t is understood hat the federals and
the constitutionalists probably will soon
| clash at Torreon. and upon the resu of
this battle may depend largely the recog-
milton of the belligerency of the constitu-
tionalists. The constitutionalists. it was
remarked, have made rapid progress.
Three Resolutions Pending.
Senator shively said that If the Senate
! discusses Mexico it probably will take
up the subject on some Of the pending
| resolutions which for months past have
been sidetracked in order that the ad-
ministration might be left free to deal
with the problem.
There are three such. One by Senator
Penrose proposes that United States
troops be placed in Mexico as a con-
stabulary for the protection of Ameri-
cans. Another by Senator Fall proposes
to put the Senate on record to the effect
that Americans and their property must
| be protected. Still another by Senator
Sheppard concerns recognition of the
belligerency of the constitutiona,ists.
If administration leaders let the Mexi-
can situation break out in Senate debate,
it probably would be upon either of both
of the first two.
Senator Clark of Wyoming, it became
known today, had served notice to the
| Senate in executive session that he would
call up his resolution, introduced last
August, providing that the committee on
foreign relations be authorized and direct
ed to proceed with all due dispatch with
a full and complete investigation of the
condition of American citizens in the re-
public Of Mexico, with a view of recon-
mending to the Senate such action as will
protect the lives and property Of citizens
Of the United States. If the same shall be
| in danger and require protection. and to
make early report to the Senate of the
results of such invesngation.'
hov $Ln
| to send for persons and papers. to sub
poena witnesses and to administer
oaths.
No Fiat Money to Issue.
| An official denial was received at the
Mexican embassy here today from its
foreign Office of a recent report to the
| effect that the Huerta government was
| about to issue large amount of fiat
money. In this connection the embassy
gave out the following statement:
Among the many wild stories being
actively circulated with the sinister pur-
pose of trying to undermine the strength
and prestige of the Mexican government,
| one Of the most insidious is that relat-
| ing to a supposed issue Of some four
hundred millions Of fiat money. While
this embassy has never set itself the
impossible task Of endeavoring to con-
| tradict the constant misrepresentation
of certain portion Of the press 1t never
| theless considers that the importance of
such an item of news deserves attention,
and hence 1t authoritatively denies that
| the Mexican government which Is thor
oughly cogniZant of its obligation, forei N
as well as domestic, would ever contem-
plate such STEP.
Senator Fall of New Mexico sent to the
| State Department today the following
| telegram which he received from r. NJ.
Dudley of Ell Paso. Tex:
'Will you use your influence to per-
| suade Washington government to de-
mand immediate surrender of Benton g
| body to proper authorities here, and also
| have competent medical examination be-
| fore the body Is decomposed? l am GER
tain the body will show great abuse in
| addition to gunshot wounds
| The message was sent from Ell Paso
last night Dudley telegraphed Senator
Fall Saturday. asserting that Gen. Villa
had shot Benton like dog.
Congress Not to Interfere.
Administration leaders in Congress are
confident that they will be supported by
the majority of the democrats as well as
by many republicans in their efforts to
keep the question within the councils Of
the Senate foreign relations committee
and thesexecutive department of the gov
| ernment. The disposition OF most sena-
| tors is to leave the question in the hands
of President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan, preferring to await word from
them before considering drastic meas
| ures.
| The feeling that a repetition of the
Benton incident may force the American
! government to a change Of policy g ap-
parent in official circles. but it is known
that both the President and his cabinet
have time and again rejected the idea
| of Intervention. because they did not
believe it would by any means bring
permanent peace to Mexico. D-scontented
elements. they believe. will continue to
prevail there until political and eco
nomic readjustment has taken Place in.
side that country. mo one outside OF
Mexico can accommodate her affairs. II
according to the view of the Washington
government. and there is nothing N
ght to indicate that this point Of view
| will be changed.
President Wilson and Secretary Bryan
conferred briefly on the subject yester-
day, but 1t is understood that nothing
definite was decided on. Sir Cecil Spring
Rice has expressed to the British foreign
Office his pleasure at the manner In which
tho American government has acted in