The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-02-26
ENGLAND PROBING
DEATH OF BENTON
CONSUL PERCEVAL OF CALVES
TON GENT TO SCENE OF Exc.
CUTION IN JUAREZ.
CABINET CONSIDERS INCIDENT
lj)poly U. 8. viii Accept Statement Of
Villa Unless Contradictory
Evidence Is Pro.
duced.


London Feb. 25.-The British gov
,sE1meut has invoked the good offices
Ut the United States government tt
urge that there shall be no interior
snco by General Villa with it's investi
cation into the death of William S
Denton.
Percevai to investigate.
The investigation is to be made by
Charles Perceval, British consul a
Galveston, who has been ordered tt
Juarez.
Nr. Perceval has been instructed t.
supply the most complete reports OBJ
tainable.
Sir Edward Grey, British foreign
secretary, told the house Of commons
Of tho latest developments in the Mex
Iuan situation.
He said Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, Brit
ish ambassador at Washington, had
been instructed to inform the United
States government that Great Britain
considered 1t essential for a British
consul to visit the spot where William
q. Benton was killed.
Consul Perceval, at Galveston, had
bssn selected for this purpose and be
was to supply the best reports pos.
sIble regarding Benton's death and
concerning the two missing English.
msn, Laurence and Curtis.
Ask Aid Of U. s.
CIR Cecil was instructed to ask the
United States government, at Great
Britain had no means of communicat.
ing with General Villa, to instruct the
DATED States consul at Juarez to In.
lnrm General Villa and to request an
assurance that the British consul
should not be interfered with.
Tho comprehensiveness Of the
American governments instructions
called forth hearty cheers in the house
oR commons.
Sir Edward Grey added that no re.
ny had been received to his commune
cation concerning Consul Percival.
Cabinet Considers Execution.
Washington.-A cabinet meeting at.
1orded President Wilson an opportun.
ity to talk over with his official ad.
visers the latest information at hand
about the execution of William s.
Benton, the British subject, at Juarez
BY General Villa. the constitstionalist
1oadeP.
Before the meeting a half hour was
ret aside by the president for a con.
ference with Secretary Bryan. The
latter wanted to present more details
"a the Benton episode as received in
overnight dispatches. Mail reports
from American consular officers also
wsre due to reach here today.
Villas Story unreputed.
Much interest was manifest in the
published interview with General Villa
at chihuahua in which he recited again
the story of what he alleges was an at
tempt on his life by Benton. Thus far
the state department. it is known, has
resolved no authentic evidence tend
ing to refute Villas version Of the af-
Gafr. >""
Though some doubt as to the man
aer In official circles, unless positive
evidence is presented controverting
Villas claims, it is now quite certain
the American government will not re-
3ect his story.
One direct effect Of the incident, it
b admitted generally here, will be
manifesto of some kind by the United
States to the constitutionalists that
foreigners must abe given ample pro-
lection. 1t is suggested in some quart
err that the American government
may seek to reach an understanding
With Villa through consular officers
whereby the constitutionalists will
pgree not to take summary action with
respect to any foreigners until he has
previously notified Washington off,
cials. {
Senator Fall, who has often ex.
pressed the view that the United
States should adopt a more aggressive
Mexican policy, said today he did not
intend to bring the subject up in con.
Eress. unless it was in executive SEES.
sion of the senate. s..
He declared he favored Intervention
that would restore peace.