The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-03
ENGLAND MUST WAIT, TOO.
Foreign Secretary Tells Commons
There Is Nothing Else to Do.

London, March Sir Edward
Grey, the British foreign secretary.
made an important statement on the
Mexican situation in the house of
ton as to the investigation into the
death at Juarez of William s. Ben
ton, the British ranchman, Sir Ed
ward said:
II must ask leave of the house to
make a somewhat more extended
statement than can properly be COM
pressed within the limits of an an
swer to a question.
"All the efforts that have been
made hitherto have failed to secure
an investigation into the facts respect
ing the death of William S. Benton.
1.-The persistent difficulties put in
the way OF such an investigation
create the strongest presumption of a
desire and an intention to conceal the
truth on the part of those in Mexico
who are responsible for what has hap
pened.
ment of the United States are still pro-
ceeding, but l would repeat what I
said last week-that these commune
cations do not imply that the govern
ment of the United States has any re-
sponsibility for what has taken place
by which I mean, of course, the
death Of Benton.
while, therefore, we shall welcome
any action that the United States is
prepared to take to secure justice, we
that the United States should itself re-
sort to the use of force.
No Claim ON Uncle Sam.
zone can demand that another
government should go to all lengths
to secure PREPARATION for a crime only
when one holds that government in
some way responsible for the COM
mission Of the crime.
$50 far the United States has shown
at least as much interest in the death
in Mexico of a British subject as it
has in the case of OutrageS on Amer
lean citizens-for I understand that
several Americans have been killed in
Mexico. And the United States has
shown every desire to use it's influ-
ence to secure protection for British
subjects in the Mexican territory con-
troiled by the constitutionalists.
Il would therefore sum up the stu
alton by saying that if the United
States thinks it proper to take further
steps either on behalf of its own citi-
zens or Of a British subject, we will
gladly wait the result. but If for rea-
sons Of it's own the United States does
not think it desirable to take such
steps, we must of course reserve to
ourselves the right to secure repara-
ton whenever it is in our power to
do so.
"Our general policy towards Mexico
and the Central and South American
republics is confined to commercial in
terests which we keep within nOnpoliti-
cal limits. AS a rule therefore, all ques-
tons that arise between those repub-
lies and ourselves are settled by d.
plomatic means or can be referred to
arbitration.
But the violent death Of a British
subject and the refusal by those in
Mexico to allow the circumstances to be
Investigated make it incumbent upon
us to do what we can on our own be-
half
What Can He Do.
Assuming that the United States
does not itself desire to take any re-
spopsibility for intervention. it has
take immediate action without, how
ever. giving me any suggestion or in
dication Of what action we can take
at the moment
II must repeat what said last
week-that there is nothing we can
do under present conditions
THE government in Mexico City
has no control over the territory
where the death of Benton took
place, nor over those responsible for
his death. We cannot, therefore, un-
der the present circumstances. secure
TepaTdIlOD. lHTOu8n tHdt government.
We have no intention of engaging
in such a fantastic attempt as the
sending of a force-which. to be ef-
fective, would have to be a very large
force-into any part OF Mexico.
Under ordinary circumstances we
might have taken action at a port or
by way of blockade. Under present
conditions il we took such action and
it had any effect. 1t could only result
in giving assistance to the contending
party in north Mexico.
ITO take action that would positive
ly help those from whom we demand
PREPARATION simply for the sake Of ap-
pearing to do something, would be
worse than futile.
But we do not intend to let the
matter rest and as soon -, by any
change Of circumstances. it Is in our
power to carry the matter further we
shall take whatever steps may be
nrANtiaah1A-"