Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1914-02-28
BRYAN ACCEPTS
VILLAS OFFER
VIII Send Officials to Chihushua
to View BenlOn's Body.
WASHINGTON IN DOUBT.
Officials Convinced That Expedition
Win Never Take Place.

Secre tary of State Bryan has &C
cepted Pancho Villas offer of a spec
ial train for United States and Brit
ish officials to be sent TO Chihauhau to
view the body of William S Benton,
the British ranch owner killed By the
rebels.
Washington officials, however, doubt
that this plan will ever be carried
out. as the rebel leader mas said moth
ing regarding the date Of departure
Of the train. Jaurez agents Of the
rebel chief now say that Carranza
alone can settle the Benton case, as
he il the supreme chief" oEthe
Constitutionalists
REPORTS of a break between villa
and Carranza are still current on the
border. Exk-President Taft discuss
ed for the first time in public yester-
day the Mexican situation and de-
clared himself positively opposed to
Intervention.
This announcement was made by Sec
retary Bryan yesterday afternoon fol-
lowing an hours conference with
Ambassador Spring-Rice, during
which the British envoy sought "a
impress on the Secretary Of State
the deep feeling which is shared by
the British Government and people
equally in regard to the Benton
case. 1t was declared that the party
will go to Chihauhau as soon as
the necessary arrangements are
made.
Present indications are that there
win be several more days of delay
before the trip TO Chihauhau is under
taken by the American and British
representatives Mr.. Rryan has Mt
received from Villa any definite l.
formation as to when the special tran
promised will be furnished or as to
what measures Of protection If any
will be afforded the members OF the
party.
The party will consist Of Consul
Edwards for the United States or pos
sibIy George c. Carothers, also Of
the consular service, who is now in
IN Paso one or two army surgeons,
the number not yet having been de-
cided upon, the British Consul,
Charles Perceval, and such other per-
con as be may choose to designate as
a represe ntative Of Great Britain in
the matter, possibly another surgeon;
Mre. Benton, widow Of thu dead
man, whose preuence is considered
imperative for purposes of identified
ton, and such other relatives of Ben
ton as may care TO join the party.
When Secretary Garrison hears
from Secretary Bryan he will ask
General Bliss, commanding the
Southern division, to designate one
or two army medical officers for the
duty Of examining the Benton body.
The greatest scepticism was voiced
iu Washington as to the expedition
TO Chihsuhau proving worth while.
Few officials, aside from Mr. Bryan,
believe that Villa has been or is
acting 10 good faith. The opinion
held by most ofFicils is that either
the expedition never will reach
Chihauhau on the promised special
train or that care will have been
taken by villa TO have the Benton
body, ii IT is really in Chihauhau,
in such coalition that no facts re-
garding the mode OF death can be
az eertained from its examination.
Many officials were most ontspoken
against this Governments taking
Villas offer seriously, pointing out
that be had INSTRUCTED and contra
dicted and svaded all efforts to in
vestigte the matter for more than q
week and that therefore there IL no
reason to belle re be is telling the
truth now. Mr.. Bryan, however.
plainly showed resentment yesterday
at insinuations that Villa is not q
man Of his word and q thoroughly de.
pendable person.
Secretary Bryan insisted yesterday
afternoon that no note had been re.
ceiytd from President Heurts or the
Mexican Government regarding the
| action OF the United States in lifting
the embargo on arms and the conse.
quences thereof 1t is known that
such note was bande d to Charge
d'Affairs O'Shaughnessy in common
with all other diplom ltic representa-.
tives il Mexico City. Charge Algara
OF the Mexican Embassy at Washing.
ton was notified by cable yesterday
that it had been delivered to the
American Embassy in Mexico City.
There Is good reason to believe thai
while Mr.. Bryan may not personals
have received the Huerta note it 4
in the DEPARTING ut of State.