The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-27
Appeals to United States to
Reconsider Act Lifting
the Embargo
WASHINGTON NOT
LIKELY TO REPLY
Although There May Be
Some Informal Re-
sponse

Washington, D. c., Feb. 27.--After a
long lapse in diplomatic exchanges be-
tween Washington and the City of Mex
leo, an attempt has been made to re-
open correspondence by the submission
of an appeal by the Huerta government
for reconsideration by the United States
of the recent raising of the embargo
on arms to Mexico.
A feature of the communication is
an allegation that state of anarchy
exists in so much of Mexico as is oc-
cupied by rebel forces and it is also
charged that the immediate effect OF per-
mitting the expectation of arms has been
to place the rebels in favorable situa-
tion for committing outrages while pre-
venting the Huerta government from re-
pressing them as quickly and energeti-
cally as desired
On the other hand it is set forth that
wherever the Huerta government is in
power full protection is given the ma
tonalistis and foreigners.
1t is not expected that the state de-
partment will return aEy formal answer
to the communication.
Mexico City, Feb. 27.-The blame for
the killing ut Juarez recently of Will
liam S. Benton, British subject, was
indirectly placed upon the United States
in memorandum sent by the Mexican
government to Washington late. last
night. Copies OF the document also were
delivered to the foreign legations here.
Hope is expressed in the memorandum
that the United States would recognize
the evil following the act OF permitting
the importation of arms by the rebels
and take steps to remedy it. Repeal BY
the United States of the decree that
prevented expectation of arms to the
rebels places the rebels in favorable
situation for committing outrages and
prevents the constituted government
from repressing as quickly and 'energet-
ically as it would desire such excesses,
said the memorandum.
New Version of Benton's Death.
III Paso, Texas, Feb. 27.--A new ver-
sion of how William S. Benton met his
death at Juarez essentially differing
from the official account given out by
General Villa and believed by Benton's
friends and countrymen to be authentic,
has reached here. Americans and Others
interested in the incident have never
ceased their efforts to learn the precise
circumstances under which Benton died
and they have now obtained an account
of the affair, in large measure, which
they believe to be correct, except for the
latter's claim that Benton had admitted
he meant to do him harm. They be.
lieve Villa himself shot Benton and that
there was no court martial
According to this new version, Benton
went to Villas Office in Juarez and abb
ruptly entered the latter's quarters
without formal invitation. Villa at
once recognized Benton as an old enemy
dating back to times prior to the in
surrection, and slipping behind his vis-
itor barred the door. Benton, they say,
did not reach for his hip pocket or make
any menacing motion and neither did he
use abusive language or give utterance
to threats, but began to complain |
strongly about reported robberies on his
ranch and wanted to know when ne
would be allowed to return to it without |
further molestation.
Then, according to this version, Villa, |
pretending to walk to the door, slipped |
behind Benton and felt his hip pocket in |
WHICH ne luuHu revolver f1olulnB ben- |
ton, he Immediately called in his |
guards and placed him under arrest, |
charging him with attempted murder !
Benton was then locked in another |
room and later he asked for personal |
interview. In this talk it is said Villa |
claims that Benton confessed to him
frankly that he intended to do him
harm, and Villa then admitted that he
ordered Benton shot at once. Appar-
emily there was no court martial or
trial None was metioned by Villa, and |
his questioners did not ask him the di-
rect question, believing it disposed of by
his statement that he himself had or
dered Benton's execution.
This version of the shooting was OBJ
tanned from Villa only after the ex-
ertion upon him of persistent pressure
from various quarters to tell the truth