The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-27
MAKE NO EFFORT !,
TO SEND TROOPS
ACROSS BORDER
Without Mexico's Con-
sent, This Would Be
Act of War.
i
PRESENT POLICY
WILL CONTINUE
President Declares There Is No
Intention of Dispatching Ma
rines to Mexico City or Armed
Force to Recover Body
of Benton-Huerta's
Story Denied.

Wilson to-day took the position that
for tho United States to send marines
or armed forces of any kind into Mex
leo without the consent of the govern
Ing authorities there, would be an act
OF war. He declared emphatcally that
permission never had been sought
either of General Huerta or General
Carranza, and Indicated clearly that no
request OF that character would be-
made In the near future. The Presi-
dent also announced that no change in
the policy OF the American governments
toward Mexico had been decided upon.
The President had been asked par
ticularly about reports that American
troops might be sent across the border
to recover the body of William s. Ben
ton, and concerning published dis
patches that the United States con-
templated sending marines to Mexico
City to guard the American embassy.
One press dispatch. saying General
Huerta himself had stated to day that
he had refused permission to the
United States to send 1000 marines to
Mexico City, was shown to President
Wilson, who said no such request had
been mado.
Statement Merely for Effect.
Administration officials expressed the
opinion that General uucrta probably
inspired the statement merely for et-
rect on the Mexican people, whom he
hoped to impress with his antipathy
TO the American government, as 1t is
well known that permission to land
marines for legation guards has been
freely accorded by Huerta to other ma
tions. including Great Britain and Ger.
many.
The President explained that the talk
or sending marines to Mexico had
never got beyond the stage OF nero
discussion among administration Of
ficials. He said that when Great Brit
ain and Germany sent marines TO Mex-N
leo City to guard their legations, there
was a natural disposition hero to de-
tcrmlne II the American governments
should take similAc action. His In
formation, he added. was that Mexico
city was quiet, and that there was no
danger to foreigners, and. while
Charge O'Shaughnessy aud Rear Adj
miral Fletcher were asked for opinions
about an embassy guard. both advised
that such step was not necessary.
Admiral Fletcher took the view that
there was no occasion for landing any
armed forces
Would Involve Recognition.
1t was realized by the administra-
ton here that to ask the Huerta gov <
ernrnent for permission to land ma
rines would involve recognition of
that government.
. Discussing the subject of sending
armed forces into Mexico, the Presi-s
dent showed familiarity with precedent,
-
lion, the Chinese government virtually
had invited the allied powers to pro-
tect their legations because of It's own
inability TO do He referred to the
fact that the landing OF American ma
rines i'll Nicaragua to protect a rail-
road was done with the permission OF
the Nicarasuan government Tho
President saw no parallel in Mexico to
tho situation at the time OF the Boxer
outbreak When 1t was suggested that
President Buchanan. In message to
Congress, had advocated sending troops
into Northern Mexico to restore peace.
Mr. Wilson spoke OF recently having
read the message, and called attention
to tho failure OF President Buchanan
to point out any rule of International
law under which armed forces could
be sent into another country without
the latter's permission, unless IL were
an act OF war.
Situation Little Changed.
The President views the revolution-
ary situation In Mexico as but little
changed. Huertas resources, he
thinks, have been weakened, and he
has learned of an undertone of dissat-
isfaction among Mexicans in territory
controlled by Huerta. at the latters ar
bitrary exactions of funds. He let it
be known that he had inquired into
various reports about American finan-
cial aid to Carranza, and was convinced
there had been none.
MIR. Wilson preSumes Carranza is
getting most OF his funds by Internal
taxation and import duties,
incidentally. Mr.. Wilson disposed or
n report that an independent republic
was being planned for Northern Mex
ico He said he had information from
men who knew Carranza's mind and
of the Constitutionalists' purposes, and
that they had rejected the idea OF IL
partition OF Mexico, and that their
main aim was to redeem Mexico from
tho stain that Huerta had put on 1t.
On the Benton episode specifically,
tho President had little information to
reveal. beyond what already had been
published. He said the United States i
government slowly was finding out tho
details, and that It's course In tho
meantime necessarily must be patient
one. No reply had been received To
requests for the surrender of Benton's
body, and for information as to
where the grave was located or as to
whether n British representative would
be permitted to accompany the Ameri-
can consul ana an army surgeon when
the body was eShumed for examina-
ton. None of these requests had been
answered, the President believed. bs- q
cause of difficulties in communicating
with villa, who, he supposed. was NOV
Ing from place to place, and with whom E
telegraphic communication was slow.
The President had heard of no refusal
by Villa to receive the messages of
American consular agents.
No Opinion OF Merits, M
That Benton was an aggressive self
assertive individual Is the information
which has reached the President, bur
he venluied no opinion on the nerlta
OF the incident In which the Brft6JI AZ
was Killed. Tho request that repre-
sentative Of the British government is