Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-04
Criticism of Monroe Doctrine
Enters Into Discussion of
Mexican Situation.
DEMAND FOR PUNISHMENT
OF BENTON'S MURDERER
Lifting of Embargo on Arms by
President Wilson Subject of
Adverse Comment.

LONDON. March 4.-The Mexican
situation and Sir Edward Grey's pro
nouncement OF the views of the British
government in regard to the inyestira-
ton into the death of William s. Ben
ton are the subject of much commen,
In today's newspapers. The Pail Mall
Gazette SAYS:
The temperate and restrained Ian
guage in which Sir Edward Grey re-
ferred to the Mexican murder will have
the approval of all Englishmen. ITS
moderation. however will not disguise
the depth Of their feeling
Patience makes every concession To-
Sir Edward Grey's difficulties, but il
there is any danger of that patience
being mistaken for indifference It
would introduce an element of grave
disadvantage into international politics
Every reason of moral and inter
national right requires Of the United
States that the punishment Of Benton's
murderers shall be undertaken without
delay. At the present moment civiliza
tion stands flouted and Great Britain
outraged. The application of the Mon
roe doctrine is paralyzed and mocked.'
Emphasizes Gravity of Events.
The Globe says: "Sir Edward Grey
said much to emphasize the gravity OF
recent events and very little to relieve
the disquietude which those events have
inevitably provoked The public opinion
Of this country. however sympathetic To
the United States. will not make con-
siderations for the embarrassments OF
President Wilson an adequate excuse for
N q
which Pancho Villa, with the approval
of Nenustiano Carranza, has been guilty.
If President Wilson cannot be held re-
sponsible for the behavior OF the Mexi-
can insurrectionists his policy is directly
responsible for the state of things which
has led to intolerable excesses. What
the United States has done is not merely
to allow civil war to persist, but to To-
ment 1t by allowing arms and ammuni-
ton to the supplied to the belligerents.
THE United States Is bound to exert
that predominant and exclusive influence
which it claims for putting an end to
things which have become a danger not
merely to the United States itself but
to the civilized world
The Westminster Gazette and the
Evening Standard agree with Sir Edward
Grey that the only possible policy IL
to await and secure reparation when
circumstances permit it,
Condemns Raising of Arms Embargo.
The Daily Chronicle says:
"In a sense the United States has more
responsibility in Benton's murder than
Sir Edward Grey stated. Villa his mur-
derer, obtained practically all his arms
and supplies from across the American
border because the United States delib-
erately raised in his favor an embargo
otherwise imposed by international Law.
He was able to keep the rebellion on foot
partly for this reason, but chiefly be-
cause the United States forbade Euro
pean lenders to advance Huerta money
to crush him.
If this policy of the United States did
not exist Benton probably would still be
alive, and If he were not England would
be in position to get redress from the
regular Mexican government Thus il is
really the United States which stands
between England and redress:
Though We may be philo- American
enough not to say so ofiiciaiiy. ofhef
The United States. in short. can hardly
find a resting place Her policies mus
either go forward with the assumption
with the abandonment Of some. If not
all, which it has now assumed.
Agree With Sir Edward Grey.
The Daily News closes its editorial
by commencing Sir Edward Grey's cau-
ton 1T is irritating" the News says.
that a scoundrel should be able 10
murder a British subject with i'm
runity. but our anger should not drive
us into dangerous quarters. Sir Ed
ward Greys policy may seem for the
moment barren. but no other policy is
practicable
The Daily Express says: I'VE regret
the rather humiliating confession Of i'm
potence, and we think that Sir Edward
Grey's language not too aptly chosen:
but the sense of his statement is in
accord with public sentiment, and Is on
the whole satisfactory. The next move
clearly lies with President Wilson. He
has one of those opportunities that do
not recur.'
The Daily Telegraph. commenting on
the statement by Sir Edward Grey, agrees
with Sir Edward that reparation cannot
be sought from Mexico for the killing of
Benton. since the Huerta government has
no power in the north. 1t also agrees
with Sir Edward that armed pressure.
such as the blockade of a Mexican port.
would only serve to advance the interests
of the rebels and embarrass the Wash
lngton government.
The editorial commends the closing
statement of the foreign secretary that
when lit is in our power to carry the
matter further We shall take whatever
steps may be practicable.
THE determination to secure repara-
ton the Telegraph Says, ''is a lucid and
specific statement of British policy. -"
The foreign office does not intend to play
the game OF the rebels to the discom-
future of the Washington authorities. but
at the same time 1t has no intention OF
abandoning our undoubted rights
The editorial expresses the hope that
President Wilson and his advisers will
exert themselves to justify the confidence
in the United States government
by nations having subjects in Mexico.
The Daily Graphic says 1t would be
glad if the United States anxious to
avoid European interference in American
affairs would undertake the punishment
Of the murderers of Benton, but that If
the United States, for reasons of its own.
declines to assume the task. England
must hold herself ready to undertake "
when a convenient opportunity arise2
Criticism of Monroe Doctrine.
The Daily Chronicle says all can see
hat the oMnroe doctrine is a good deal
1t the back of the Mexican chsis. 1t
;ays there are two schools of thought
With regard to this doctrine-one advo-
.ating dropping it as a mischievous
burdensome to the
jnited States and odious to Latin
america, and the other III favor
# going forward and treating the
tates from Mexico to Peru more and
more as American protectorates.