New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-24
Parliament Told England
Will Make No Attempt
to Intervene.
u. S. ALONE CAN
ACT IN MEXICO
Sir Edward Grey Tells
Commons His Govern
ment Can Do Nothing.
RELIES ON AMERICANS
AcIand Asserts That British Inter
ference Would be I'm
polite and Futile.
IRx Cable % The TrLbune !

London. Feb. 23.-Pancho Villas kiu-
ing Of William :. Benton A. Juaref'
which has stirred the British pubic u
a remarkable degree. was taken up IA
Parliament to-day. when the attituoo
Of the government was explained 10
the House Of Commons by Sir Edward
Grey. the Foreign Minister. and Fran
els Dyke Acland. the Parliamentary
Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs
There was an unusually large at
tendance in the House, and the Minis
ter and Under Secretary had 10 an
swer numerous questions by members
who insisted on knowing whether the
government was taking all the means
al its command to ascertain tho fnil
facts OF Bentons death
\ significant cheer was give 80 tie
members or the House when Sir I'd
ward Grey said that Sir Cecil Spring
Rice, the British Ambassa dor at Wash
ington, had told Secretary Of state
BRYAN public opinion in Europe was
likely 10 he seriously affected ny Cen
eral Villas doings.
Does Not Hold U. S. Responsible.
Sir Edward Grcv explained fully that
Great Britain did ncl held the United
states responsible fcr Villas acts, oht
he said the British government was
powerless 10 take any measures in tnc
disturbed regions.
Walter Hines Page, the American
Ambassador, expressed his personal re-
gret at the killing of Benton in an IN
formal talk to-day with Sir Edward
Grey. whom he visited earlier in the
day to inform him OF the ratification
by the United States Senate OF the ar
bitration treaty between the United
States and Great Britain.
The history of the Benton affair IA
contained in the information furnished
10 Sir Cecil Spring Rice by the Stas'
Department at Washington was COM
municated in official form 10 the House
by Sir Edward Grey.
Sir Edward said that Mr. Bryan.
while declining responsibility for Villas
doings. had promised fun inquiry. lie
said details would be forthcoming and
expressed deep regret at tho OCCUR
renee
United States Alone Can Act.
Before this incident occurred, Sir
Edward continued. the United States
government had, at ou- request, inn
pressed upon the leaders OF the Consti
tutional party in Mexico tho necessity
of respecting the lives of foreigners.
should like to add 10 that the fact that
while we are communicating with the
government OF the United States, this
does not, Of course imply that I h1s
any responsibility for what has taken
place. Communication has been madr
because the United States alone can in
these circumstances exercise any inhu-
ence TO discover the truth and get JUS
tice done. Juarez is close 70 the Clitcd
States frontier, and we have ourselves
no means OF exercising influence in
those regions under existing circum-
stances.
4 am still i'm communication with
/ the British Ambassador al Washing
ton and with the United States gov
ernment as 10 what further steps can
| be taken
Sir John Rees asked whether Sir Ed
ward Grey had any information con-
cerning other Europeans who are sad
TO have disappeared in Mexico, TO which
Sir Edward replied
No sir. But | have already tels
graphed TO sir Cecil Spring Rice. sus
gesting for his consideration what steps
II would be possible 70 take in this
very disturbed region 10 ascertain the
whereabouts Of these people
sir Edward Grey read a telegram
Sir Cecil Spring Rice had resolved
from Mrs. }enton at FL Paso as fo,-
! lows.
Il beg 20 advise your excellency thai
my husband, Benton, British subject,
Yesterday went 70 Juarez and after a
heated discussion with Villa was
thrown into jail. A friend visited Villa
on his behalf. villa said: I have not
got him in prison. | saw him tbs
morning. and declined any further tsln
I the subject"
VIII Not Try to Intervene
The pacihcation OF Mexico Is IN obje T,
We earnestly desire 20 see accomplished
out il is impossible 20 effect II BY British
| intervention We do not intend 10 make
any attempt OF that character, which
would be both futile and impoltic," wa
the statement made 10 the Commons ny
| Francis Dyke Aclsnd.
Mr.. Acland informed the House that th'
British government had h-en IN frequent