New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-22
Confident Great Britain
Will Await Benton
Killing Inquiry.
HER AMBASSADOR
MAKES NO DEMAND
Senators Discuss Affair in Secret
and Fall Calls for
Stronger Policy.
Lrrnm Ii, TrIbun. BuI..u.

: ,.coint NJ the Official detailed report OF
4 Thomas y Edwards. American CohsU'
/ at Juarez. regarding the circumstances
! NJ tho execution Of William :. Benton
british subject. at the hands OF CEN
eral Psncho villa. the administration is
/ Uatchfully waiting, conhdent tha'
b Great Britain will continue patent.
/ The British Ambassador. Sir cecil
! Spring- Rice. al the direction OF MS
government. has made certain repre-
sensations 10 the Department Of state.
luji there was nothing threatening IN
the tone Of the request for a thorough
! Investigation II u realized by the
British government that the request
for the protection o. Benton was made
after he was dead. although the fact
was not then known here and IT is also
appreciated that Benton vas hardly
discreet in his action.
Secretsry BRYAN admitted to-day that
the preliminary report from Consul
Edwards was that Benton was killed
/ following a court martial. He declined
10 indicate. however what his opinion
was as 10 the regularity of-the action.
| The Secretary also refused 10 comment
on proba bilities or 10 forecast what &C
/ ton the administration would take
should il develop that there was no
! justification for the killing of Benton.
Senate Discusses Killing.
I III -
| TO the attention Of the Senate to-day by
/ Senator Fall. who had read in open
session a telegram from George Curry
notifying him OF the adoption OF reso-
buttons OF protest by the mass meeting
| in Fl Psso. and telegram from r. u.
/ Dudley. Of FL Paso who said that
/ William Benton was murdered like
! dog by lila"
While the Senate was in secret Sea-
sion. after the arbitration treaties had
been disposed or Senator Fall again
/ brought mp the subject OF Mexico and
demanded the adoption of a definite
/ policy by the United States with re-
spect 10 the protection Of its citizens.
, He declared that this government was
standing idly by while foreigners were
being murdered in Mexico. and insisted
, that something be done.
& Senator'S generally regarded the kill
, ing Of Benton as an unfortunate incl
dent likely TO accentuate the ominous
aspect OF the Mexican situation. al
though no immediate difficulties were
expected 10 arise from it, A large
number OF Senators take the view that
there is no apparent solution Of the
problem: that any recognition Of the
Constitutionalist faction. so long as
Villa is az its head, is out of the ques-
ton.
William Benton was murdered like
A dog by villa" said the dispatch OF
Mr. Dudley 10 Senator Fall Almost
certain Villa did IL personally No evi-
dence that Benton was the aggressor
Everything shows il 10 have been cold
blooded murder. Castillo a guest OF
our government with safety from pun
ishment. Villa boasting OF his crime
Is there no protection anywhere? II
Paso full OF rebel officers. The bust
ness affairs OF the rebellion openly
done here. Your thousands Of friends
out here want 10 hear your voice IN
Senate on our behalf 'wstchful wait
ing failure"
Thorough Inquiry Ordered.
Explanations made by General Villa
TO Thomas D. Edwards and George G.
Carothers. the American consular rep
resentstives al Juarez. together With
the court martial record. are 10 be sup
plemented by further information In
slructions have been sent to the Amer
lean Consul. Mr.. Letcher. al chihuahua.
10 get additional details from Villa.
and it i understood that inquiry
through Independent sources will be
carried on AT Juarez. Mr.. Carothers
is consular agent at Torreon. temporsr-
lily assisting Mir Edwards
Il is understood that Ambassador
Spring Rice has emphasized the un-
official character OF his representations
he has thus far made 10 the State De-
partment. on The ground that the Brit
lsh government claimed no legal obi
cation by the United States to look
after the welfare OF British subjects in
Mexico. The action Of the State De-
psrtment directing consuls 10 extend 10
the British in Mexico the same degree
81 protection as is given To Americans
has been regarded as an act Of court
esy. for which the British government
was duly grateful
For this reason. il is said there is
10 basis for the expectation that any
demand or any request will be made
on the United States government 10
secure repsration for the killing OF
Benton. and determination ~ the
proper course 10 be pursued toward
villa is consequently 10 be left entirely
70 STATE Department oficials
one result OF the Benton incident has
been 10 create q feeling OF spprehen-
sion in The diplomatic circle in Wash
inston as 20 the safety OF the large for
eign element in Mexico So far the res
ideni diplomats have rested content in
he belief hat the underts king by IN. |