The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-02-26
ENGLAND SETS AT
REST WILD N
OF INTERVENTION

IT-E ~NN - ~ 80
possible to effect IL by British i~nterven
ton. We do not intend to make an!
9ttempt OF that character which woul(
be bot futile and impolitic."
This is the attitude OF the British
foreign office as outlined today in TIT
House or Commons by Francis Dykt
Acland, parliamentary under secretary
Tor Foreign affairs, who said, after full
consideration of the series of victim
izatfons of British subjects in Mex
leo, eliminating in the removal o.
Wtliam -. Benton by Villa at Juarez
Mr.. Acland informed the house thai
the British government had been IT
frequent communication with the gov
ernments of the United States and
Mexico respecting the protection OF
British lives n property in Mexico
The continued fighting in Mexico" he
added, is of very great prejudice tc
British and other commercial interests
Germ" ".
Mr.. Acland promised to lay the pa
pers on h subject of Mexico before
n house of commons as oon as pos
sible. but he added significantly:
The most interesting papers at the
British foreign office, however, are
communications made at various times
with the government of the United
States concerning it's policy and its
views regarding Mexico. Some of these
are OF. a confidential character and
cannot include them In a blue book
without asking the consent of the
United States government"
Mr.. Aclan emphasized the undesir-
ability Of publishing anything at pres
emit which might tend to increase the
chances Of danger to British property
at the hands of the ~contending parties
in Mexico.
The history Of the Benton affair as
contained in the information furnished
to Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, British am
bassador to the United States by the
state department at Washington was
communicated in official form to the
house of commons today by Sir Edward
Grey.
A significant cheer was given by the
members OF the house when Sir Ed
ward Grey said hat Sir Cecil Spring
Rice, the British ambassador at Wash
Bryan public opinion in Europe was
likely to be seriously effected by Cen
eral Villas doings.
Sid Edward Grey explained fully that
Great Britain did not hold the United
States responsible for Villas acts, but
he said the British government vas
powerless to take n measures in the
disturbed regions.
Several members questioned the sec
rotary for foreign affairs to make sure
that the government was taking all
possible steps to learn the facts of the
Benton case.
Walter Hines Page, the American
ambassador, expressed his personal re-
greet at the killing OF Benton, in an
informal talk today with Sir Edward
Grew whom he visited to inform him
of the ratification by the United States
Senate Of the arbitration treaty be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain.
United States Not Responsible.
Sir Edward Grey said that Mr..
Bryan, while declining responsibility
for Villas doings, had promised full in
quiry. He, said details would be
forthcoming and expressed deep regret
at the occurrence. Sir Edward con-
tinued:
Before this incident occurred, the
United States government had at our
request impressed on the leaders of
the constitutionalist party in Mexico,
the necessity Of respecting the lives of
foreigners. | should like to add that
the fact we are communicating with
the government Of the United States
sp~onsibility for what a taken place.
Communication has been made because
the United States alone can in these
circumstances exercise any influence
to discover the truth and get justice
done. JuareZ, Is close to the United
States frontier and we have ourselves
means Of exercising influence in
those regions under existing circum-
I am still in communication
with the British ambassador at Wash
ing and with the United States as to
what further steps can be taken"
Sir job Rees asked whether Sir
Edward Grey had any information con-
corning other Europeans who are said
have disappeared in Mexico. Sir
Edwards said:
mo, but / have already telegraphed
Sir Cecil Spring Rice suggesting for
consideration what steps 1t would
be possible to take in this very dis
turbed region to ascertain the where
abouts Of these people,"