Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-04
NO DIRECT REPLY
TO GEN. CARRANzA
Insurgent Leader Must Ac-
count for Deaths of Ben
ton and Bauch.
VIEW IS TRANSMITTED
TO U. S. CONSULAR AGENT
Congress May Act When All the
Facts Are Known-Ainey
Resolution Postponed.

Taking the position that It is now up to
Gen. Carranza to account for the deaths
OF William s. Benton and Gustav Bauch
in territory he claims is under his control,
the administration here has sent no direct
reply to Carranzas note of last Saturday,
but is depending on George c. Carothers,
American consular agent, to acquaint the
consttutionalist chief with the American
view of the situation when he arrives at
Nogales today.
me commission named yesterday by
CarranZa to investigate Benton's death is
expected by officials here to exhume the
Engiishman's body and examine the sew
eral witnesses to the shooting 1t is now
generally accepted here that Benton was
shot by Villa himself. and the only point
at issue is whether the act was justified.
The commission is said by Carranzas
friends to be as eminent as it was possi-
bic to obtain. Miguel Silva, one of the
members. is said to be one of the leading
physicians in Mexico, and therefore well
qualified to judge of the nature Of me
wounds inflicted on Benton.
Officials Decline Comment.
No comment was forthcoming today
from officials here regarding statement
alleged to have been given out at Nogales
by Carranza in which he said that should
the United States intervene in Mexico it
would infiame all Latin America. 1t was
generally accepted that even If Carranza
made any such statement, this view would
have no effect on the policy of the United
States.
The foreign relations committee of the
Senate in protracted executive session to-
day discussed the Mexican situation, and
listened to recital of conditions exist
ing in Mexico from the lips of Pedro del
Z!lar and Cecilio Ocon, two Mexicans in
troduced to the committee by Senator
Fall Of New Mexico. The committee also
heard Boaz w. Long, chief Of the bureau
of Latin American affairs of the State
Department, who laid before 1t many
communications regarding Mexico.
1t is understood that the two Mexicans
urged the United States to take strong
steps to bring about peace in their coun-
try. The committee did not adjourn for
the session of the Senate and planned to
go thoroughly into all available facts re-
garding Mexico. Senator Shively, the
acting chairman of the committee. said
he felt that the evidence from the Mex
leans should be withheld from publica-
tio.l. since it misht close the avenues of
communication for the committee.
Ainey Resolution Again Postponed.
I. Consideration OF the resolution of
Representative Ainey Of Pennsylvania,
calling upon the President for Mexican
Information. was again postponed to-
day by the House foreign affairs COM.
mittee. Secretary Bryan was to have
appeared before the committee today,
but failed to appearx a mestaug of the
committee will be held tomorrow In or
der that Secretary Bryan may present
his views.
Up to the present the government here
has made no reply to the last note Of
Gen. Huerta, protesting against the rails
ing of the embargo on the expectation
of arms into Mexico. and no intimation
has been given regarding when. IL ever.
such a reply will be sent. 1t is known
that Huerta expects a reply.
Carranza Stops Work Of Commission.
Gen. Carranza's announcement that he
had appointed a special commission to
investigate the recent execution by Gen.
Villa Of William 8. Benton. coupled with
the declaration of Great Britain that
she would not look to the United States
for action as a result of this incident,
was generally accepted today as meaning
the Abandonment of the expedition Of
American and British representatives
who were to have gone to Chihuahua to
examine Benton's body.
There is every reason to believe that
Great Britain has closed the Benton in
cident for the present, although she has
reserved the right to exact reparation in
the future. England's withdrawal at this
time. it is believed. will put the United
States in the position of a patient OBJ
server of developments in connection
with this particular incident.
Sir Lionel Garden. British minister to
Mexico, who stopped in Washington yes
terday to call on President Wilson and
Secretary Bryan. left for New York late
last night, and sailed for London this
morning. In company with Sir Cecil
Spring Rice, British ambassador to the
United States, he had long talk with
the President at the White House last
night.
Possible Results Indicated.
In some quarters 1t was suggested that