Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-03
ENGLAND MUST
WAIT IN BENTON
CASE, SAYS GREY
Foreign Secretary Tells Conn
mons Action on Deadlock
Can't Be Taken Now.
GREAT BRITAIN RESERVES
RIGHT TO ACT LATER
Holds u. S. Cannot Be Asked to
Use Force in
Mexico.

y view that iO
action could be taken by 1t in con-
nection with the deadlock over the in
vestigation into the death at Juarez
of William s. Benton, was made quite
plain today in the House of Com
mons by Sir Edward Grey, the British
foreign secretary.
Sir Edward was however equally
explicit in pointing out that if Great
Britain failed to secure satisfaction
through the United States the British
government reserved to itself the
right to secure reparation whenever
il was able to do So
The promised pronouncement on the
Mexican situation from the foreign
secretary had been anXiously awaited.
1t was delivered before a keenly in
terested gathering of the members
of the House of Commons.
Incensed at Carranzs,
Intense resentment has been dis
elayed throughout the British Isles
over what is regarded as the attempt
ON the part of Venustiano Carranza,
: the Constitutionalist leader, to SOW
discord between England and the
United States, and also over the re-
peated delays in the investigation of
the death of Benton.
Sir Edward said:
II must ask leave of the House to
make a somewhat more extended
statement tnan 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 re-
specting the death of William s.
Benton.
''The persistent difficulties put in
the way of such an investigation
create the strongest presumption OF
desire, and an intention to conceal
the truth on the part of those in
Mexico who are responsible for what
has happened.
q. S. Not Held Responsible.
Communications with the govern
ment of the United States are still
proceeding, but / would repeat what
/ said last week--that these COM
munications do not imply that the
government of the United States has
any responsibility for what has taken
piace--by which | mean, of course,
the death of Benton.
while, therefore, we shall welcome
sny action that the United States is
prepared to take to secure justice we
have no title to demand as a right
that the United States should itself
resort to the use or force.
"One can demand that another gov
ernment should go to all lengths to
secure reparation for crime only
when one holds that government in
some way responsible for the COM
mission of the crime.
$50 far the United States had
shown at least as much interest in
the death in Mexico of British sub
ject as il has in the case of outrages
on American citizens-for / under
stand that several Americans have
been killed in Mexico. And the
United States has shown every desire
to use it's influence to secure protec-
ton for British subjects in the Mexi-
can territory controlled by the Con-
stitutionalists.
VIII Await U. S. Action,
II would therefore sum up the
situation by saying that if the United
States thinks it proper to take further
steps. either on behalf of it's own citi-
zens or of British subject we will
gladly wait the result But If for
reasons of its own the United States
does not think 1t desirable to take
such steps, we must, of course, re-
serve to ourselves the right to secure
repara ton whenever it is in our power
to do so.
"Our general policy toward Mexico
and the Central and South American
republics Is confined to commercial
interests. which we keep within nom
political limits. AS a rule, therefore,
all questions that arise between thlse
republics and ourselves are settled by
Diplomatic means or can be referred
to arbitration.
"Rut the violent death of a British
subject and the refusal by those in
Mexico to allow the circumstances TO
he investigated make it incumbent
npon us to do what we can on our
own behalf.
Assuming that the United states
docs not desire itself to take any re
snonsibilitv for Intervention, it has
heen urged upon me that we should
rake Immediate action without, how
ever. giving me any suggestion or m
Jication of what action we can take
at the moment.
PowerIess at Present.
"T must repeat what / said last
uaax-that there is nothing we can
do under present conditions.
1.-THE government II Mexico CITY
has no control over the territory
nrhere the death of Benton took place
nor over those responsible for his
death. We cannot, therefore under
The present circumstances secure
renaration through that government
1--WE have no intention of engaging
in such a fantastic attempt as the
sending of force-which to be ef-
fective would have to be very large
force-into any part of Mexico.
"Under ordinary circumstances we
might have taken action at port or
hv way of blockade. Under present
conditions if we took such action, and
it had any effect, it could only result
in ngiving assistance to the contend
ing party in North Mexico.
.To take action that would posi-
lively help those from whom we de-
mand rephration simply for the sake
of appearing to do something, would
be worse than futile.
.sBut we do not intend to let the
matter rest and as soon as by any
change of circumstances it is in oui
power to carry the matter further we
shall take whatever steps may be
practicable