Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-26
State Department Orders In
quiry into Hanging of
American Citizen.
BENT0N'S BODY DEMANDED
Autopsy Would Show Whether
Death Resulted from Re-
vOlver Shot or Bullets
of Firing Squad.

Washington, Feb. 25.--The Mexican
situation which has centered chiefly
Tor the last few days upon efforts to
Hetermine how and why the constitu
alonalists executed william S. Benton,
4 British subject, was broadened to-
Say when Consul Garrett at Nuevo
LAREDO was instructed by the state de-
partment to inquire into the hanging
by Mexican fedcrals of Clemente Yer
CARA, an American citizen. near HI
aalgo. Mexico, and to demand the
body of Vergara.
Earlier in the day Marion Letcher,
American consul at Chihuahua, had
been instructed to insist that General
Villa permit the delivery of the body
OF Benton to the widow for burial
wherever she may wish
General Villas message Of last night
Offering to permit the widow of Benton or
relatives and an official to see the body
when eXhumed, is being taken to mean
by the American government that COM
nlete medical examination may be per-
formed. Secretary Bryan told members
Of the Senate foreign relations committee
to-day that the United States was insist
ing that two American representatives be
permitted to see the body and that one
Or these be an army surgeon. 1t is under
ftood that the British ambassador Sir
Necil Spring-Rice, for the present will he
fatished If there is an opportunity for an
autopsy which would determine whether
Benton was shot by a pistol bullet or by
rife bullets from a firing squad, believing
discussion of the disposition of the body
Fan be taken up afterwards.
FOREIGNERS IN DANGER.
No change Of the government policy on
the Mexican problem was discussed with
the senators by Secretary Bryan to-day.
1t is apparent, however, that while Off
cials are not preiudging the Benton
affair. and are awaiting for all the facts
the danger to the safety of foreigners
in northern Mexico. and what Is being
construed as inability of a part of the
constitutionalists, at least, to prevent in
ternational complications, is receiving the
deep consideration of high administra-
tion officials.
1t has developed that the American
government is informally looking to
Gen. Nenustiano Carranza, as titular
Itiu VI lIc OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES movement,
to clarity the situation in connection
with the Benton killing. The news
that Luis Cabrera was at Juarez in
conference with Villas friends, urging
the immediate delivery of the body for
examination, was received with salts
faction by the state department
Cabrera is understood to eb an ennis
sary from Carranza. and, it is said, the
state department has on previous oc-
Casions benefited by his activities foi
protection of Americans and other for
eigners
Should Carranza's influence with Villa
be unavalling in the present instance, /,
Is admitted by many officials the American
government will regard the problem II
northern Mexico as having developed &
much more serious aspect than before.
MAY GUARD L. S EMBASSY.
Another aspect of the situation that i.
engaging attention here Is the sendinl
to Mexico City of the armed Legation
guards of foreign nations. The possibility
of complications over the presence o
these guards in case of overt acts or dis
turbances in Mexico City is being takel
into consideration, While the sending o
guard for the American embassy wa
absolutely rejected as unnecessary tw
weeks ago, 1t is now being discussed will
much more seriousness
Secretary Bryan to-day took the Senat
committee into his confidence on tn
Mexican situation in general and tn
Benton execution In particular, and als
discussed the foreign relations of the ma
ton as pertaining to other countries. II
told the committee that the ratification
of the arbitration treaties last week ha,
been effective In establishing confdenc
among the powers.
Secretary Bryan said the policy Of tn
government toward Mexico was receivin
loyal support from foreign nations, an
he read to the committee several com
munications on the subject from othe
powers. He called attention to the speec
In the House Of Commons the other da
by Sir Edward Grey, the British foreig
minister, after the execution Of Benton
and declared that It was an evidence O
the general satisfaction existing in othe
lands with regard to the attitude of tn
United States toward Mexico.
The question of the United State
recognizing the belligerency of the con
Btitutionalists was dwelt upon, tn
general opinion prevailing being tha
the time for such "A diplomatic NOV
on the part of the United States ha
not arrived. 1t was conceded, howeve
that such a contingency might aris
In the near future, and would call fo
careful consideration.
Both the secretary and members
the committee stated after the COZ
ference that facts and not policies WEI
discussed.
II was urged by Mr. Bryan that 7
action be taken in the Senate wit
regard to the Benton incident unit
all the facts had been procured l
the government and the senator
agreed that agitation of the matt
would be ill-advised until the investigi