The Sentinel=record., 1914-02-24
BETTER PROTECTION OF FOR. EIGNERS IN MEXICO WILL
 LIKELY BE TAKEN UP.
BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Problem Has Now Become One of In, ternationaI Importance and Some Kind of Action Is Expected from the Administration.

Washington, Feb. 3.-Regardlesi Of whether or not the execution O Wm. & Benton, a British subject bl Gen. Villa was justified. today's de Nelopments emphasized clearly tha protection of foreigners in rebellion torn Mexico had become a command ing problem of increased information a importance, appreciated no less by President Wilson than by leader, in congress.
 Briefly these were the days de yelpoments
 After a conference with President Wilson, Acting Chairman Shively oi the senate foreign relations commit tee and members of tIHt committed reached an understanding that the Mexican question if taken up in the senate should be discussed behind closed doors.
 Pending resolutions looking to bet ter protection for foreigners soon win be taken up by the senate.
 The discussion in the British par lament of the Benton incident was read with much interest by officials wlo observed particularly that the United States was not held responsi ble by Sir Edward Grey for the death of Benton.
 The British embassy announced that the British consul at Galveston Tex, has been ordered to Fl Paso to assist in the inquiry concerning Benton, but in no way to interfere with the American inquiry.
 Intimations were received through semiofficial channels that marines would be landed by Japan and France ta act as legation guards il Mexio, City. along with those of Great Brit ain and Germany.
 That the Huerta government is not ayerse to the sending of foreign re gation guards to Mexico City is known here officially but the United States for the present at least will not fol low the course of other nations.
 The whole tenor of the Mexican sitaution, while revealing no unusua, activity, reflected the same anxiety and perplexing tangles which often have characterized it during the days of extreme tension
 Attention was focused on the in vestigation as to the manner in which Wm. s. Benton met death at Juarez The report which has been maied by American consular representatives had not reached here late today. II is expected tomorrow. It's contents have been anticipated by telegraphit dispatches, giving Villas version of the affair, and additional details are being sought from Gen. Villa at Chi hauhua by American Consul Letcher The attempt to eXhume Benton body though unayailing as yet, IS eX pected to bring further evidence
 Just what will be the final iudg ment of the American officials in the case no one will predict, but il would not be surprising to many ir official circles if Villas explanation went unchallenged in the absence Of satisfactory proof with which to i'm peach it. That the. American gov erument may pass on to Great Brit ain the facts as found without lndl eating any judgment at all in the tn, fc Inv d1nl0 mats as a likely course. Steps to SC cure better protection for English nationals then are expected to follow and 1t is this feature of the case whici is provoking discussion of a pcs sible assertion of policy on the par of the United States which might eA press itself anew on the subject 0 protection to foreigners.
 That Great Britain might urge he subjects to leave Mexico as did tn United States government is consio erad plausible.
 The American government feels deep sense of obligation in conne( ton with the safety of foreigners I northern Mexico, having assure those nations which had no consula representatives there that the Wasi meton government would exercise Watohful eye in their behalf Tha eals does not involve direct respons hllity was maed clear today by ; Edward Grey at London, and in som quarters tonight the ordering of Cha Alexander Spencer Perc'al, Bri'is