Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-02-24
WATCHING mexican
affairs CLOSELY
PROTECTION OF FOREIGNERS iS
THE QUESTION FACING THE
ADMINISTRATIONS
SENATE TO take ACTION
Feeling of High Tension FOL ows the
Murder of an Eneiish Subject in
JunrcZ.

WASUl NGTON, Feb. 23.-ReGard
less of whether or not the execution OF
William 8. Benton, British subject
by General Villa was justified, today S
developments emphasized clearly that
protection of foreigners In rebellion
torn Mexico had become command
ing problem Of increased international
importance, appreciated no less b!
President Wilson than by leaders in
congress.
Briefly these were the days devel-
opments:
After conference with President
Wilson, acting crarman Shively Of
the Senate foreign relations committee
and members Of that committee reach
ed 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 viii
be taken up by the senate.
The discussion in the Births parla-
mcnt Of the Benton incident was read
with much interest by officials who
States was net held responsible by Sir
Edward Grey for the death of Benton
The British embassy announced that
the British consul at Galveston, Tex,
has been ordered to El Paso to assist
In the inquiry rning Benton, but
in no way to interfere with the Amer
lean investigation.
limitations were received through
semi official channels that Marines
would be landed by Japan and France
10 act as legation guards in Mexico
cit. aloig with those Of Great Britain
and Germany.
That the Huerta government is not
aVerse to the sending Of foreign lega
tion guards to Mexico City is known
here officially but The U. S. for the
present at least will not follow the
course Of other nations.
The whole tenor of the Mexican
situation, while revealing no unusual
activity, reflected the same anxiety
and perploXing tangles which often
have marked it during the days Of eX
trcme tension.
Attention was chiefly focused on
lnP lnNtSllSilloU as lne MANNER III
which William S. Benton met death at
JlIarez but details of the affair Still
are lacking. The report which has
leen mailed by American consular
representatives had not reached here
late today. 1t is expected tomorrow.
Its contents have been anticipated by
telegraphic dispatches giving Villas
version of the affair, and additional
details are being sought from Gen.
Villa at Chihuahua by American CON
sui Letcher. The attempt to eXhume
Eenton's body though unavailing as
yet, is expected to bring further evi~
dence.
Just what will be the final judg-
Ment of the American officials in the
case no one Will predict, but 1t would
not be surprising to many In official
circles II Villas explanation went un-
challenged in the absence of satisfac-
tory proof with which to impeach It.
That the American government may
pass on to Great Britain the facts as
found without indicating any judg-
ment at all in the matter is considered
by some dlplomatists as likely
course. Steps to secure better pro-
lection for English nationals then are
expected to follow and 1t Is this fea-
ture OF the case which Is provoking a
Continued on Page 81