The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-23

Juarez.
 wsasssington, Feb 2s.AThe Mezican situation especially the somsWla-t i tense aspect which it has assumed aa ! a result of the execution by General
 Villa of William 8. Benton, a Brittsb l subject, continued uppernOSt in the minds of officials here today Reports containing General WifLaaa l personal explanation of the affair to American Consul Edwards at Juarez l were due to reach here by mail ro- day. Judgment is to be reserved by l government officials until the detallg i sought by the Independent anveSti8a- ton are received In the meantime the feeling Of apprehension for the
 safety Of Gustav Bauch, Roger Lau- renee and an Englishman named Our i4tis, as we'll as other missing foreign l CTS, served to emphasize the extent to l which the United States may become i involved in securing protection for for eign residents 4n Mexico.
 DIFFICULT TASK AHEAD Especially difficult is the task of the American government in undertaa<ins
 to care for foreigners in northern I Mexico where European powers have no consular representatives. A gen era1 disposition has existed among Fyuropean nations for some months co
 leave the Limited States as MsEScO'B nearest heighbor, to handle the Gitua- ton alone
 regarding the Benton case have been
 communicated to the British nlindster. Sir Cecil Spring Rice, who eXpressed appreciation of the prompt soEcituds shown by the Annerican government for the welfare of Brdtfsh subjects
 Thus far the state department has learned only ViEa,s side of the case. The right of the const1tutiona1ist com uaander to court martial and execiNo Benton if he ddd make an attempt on vIafa,s life is not questioned by Amer l ican officials and in the absence of satisfactory proof to the contrary, it is difficult to reject ViBha's version or the affair The story Of Bentonig friends that a1e was unaFmed, that he was killed by Villa. in person and that the court martial was nothing but am inquest is taken into consideration by officials.
 MAY DISTURB CONFIDENCE
 If vatiass story ts accepted by the state department there Is no question in the minds of close observers but that fine confidence felt by Washing- ton in the disposition of Vihha to eE- tend protection to foreigners win be somewhat 6flaken.
 Just as Villa had given satisfactorv assurances that he would protect SpaniardS at Torreon and as the Amer fcan government was acquiring a feel ing of relief that it would not be wOr- ried with perplexing problems in con nection with the protection of foreisu- CTS in Northern Mexico, the incident has e-aNvakened discussion Of the en- tire Mexican problem
 Talk of armed intervention, possible speeches in the Senate by those who favor a drastic policy and a. general agitation of the subject is again in the air Administration officials realize the situation is fraught with grave possibilities.
 Administration leaders in Congress are confident that they will be sup ported by the majority of the Demo crats and by many of the Republieau1 in their efforts to keep the u1eDtiou within the limits desired by the eEe- cutive departments of the government
 POLICY MAY BE AFFECTED.
 That repetition of the Benton ir- Ccontinued on Page TWeJ