The Cairo bulletin., 1914-02-25
Wanton Killing of Benton by Villa
Arouses British Lion from
Lethsrgy.
WATCHFUL WAITING POLICY
WILSON ABOUT TO EXPLODE
Adjournment Forced in Senate
Dleading Demand for In.
mediate Intervention.


crnment OF Great Britain expect
the United States to deal with tn,
killing OF William s. Benton, exc
cuted at Juarez, Mexico, February
16, by order of General Villa, ant
demand the same reparation hat
Benton been an American instead
of a British subject"
This was tho ironical deman;
made by the British foreign Office
on the State Department of the
United States today, through Ana
bassador Cecii-Spring Rice.
Other important developments in
the extremely acute situation which
it is believed here, point to an Gu
forced abandonment of the Wilson
Bryan Mexican policy of watchful
waiting, are:
FlRST-A hurried adjournment
was forced by supporters of the Will
son policy to prevent an outbreak in
the Senate, which would have
amounted to a demand for inter.
veatioi, unless the State Depart.
ment is willing to take steps that
will guarantee lives and property Of
foreign residents in Mexico.
SEC0ND-Anouncement that .he
Senate committee on foreign rela-
tons will take control of the situa.
tion on Wednesday by demanding
publicity of all information i'll pos.
session of State Department authori-
ties.
THIRD-Charge by one OF the
best Informed members of the Sell
ate that Consul Edwards at Juarez,
on whom the State Department is
depending for official reports, is
prejudiced in favor of Valla and
sending incomplete reports Of tie
Benton killing.
F0URTH-Admission by high
State Department officials that Con-
sui Edwards is not satisfactory; III
Inmates in letter to & Senator that
the situation is too delicate TO let
this be known or make a change
now.
FIFTH-Secretary of State Bryan
amazes Ambassadors Sir Cecil Spring
Rice and M. Jusserand by intima ting
that evidence justified Villa III or
dering execution Of Benton.
SIXTH-British embassy officials
say they would not oppose the in.
augurat:On Of supplemental policy
recognizing revolutionary states in
Mexico and intimate any change
from present policy would be accept.
able.
SEVENTH--By order of the Brit
ish Foreign office, Ambassador Cecil
Spring-Rioe ordered the British
Consul at Galveston, Texas, Charles
Percival to proceed &c Juarez and
conduct an investigation of Benton
killing independently of American
authorities.
Tho British Ambassador as cXclu-
sively given out@in these dispatches
Sunday, called upon the State Ne q,
partment and demanded a free and
full inquiry. Today he followed
this up with more imperative de-
mands
Official of the State Department
are obviously perturhed by the in
sistenec of the British Ambassador.
who is in frequent touch with Sir
Edward Grey.
In the messages sent to the Ameri
can consuls in Mexico today the
State Department is anxious to have
the following questions answered:
|. Who actually fired the shot
that killed Benton?
9. Did he have fair trial?
3. What became of mis- body
Tho oonsuls have been ordered 10
follow ap any clews they may have
as TO the disposition of Benton's S boiy
They are expected to demand that
Villa turn over the corpse to their
care anl it will ne sent to Ell raso.