The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-23
COMMENT IN BRITISH
PRESS RESTRAINED
London Papers Withhold judy
ment in Benton Case
Pending Inquiry.
QUICK ACTION EXPECTED
"Daily Mail" Refers to villa
as Pr0tege Of U. s.
Government.
QUICK ACTION EXPECTED
special Cable DespsscA to TIE suS.

cpeC0t Cdob Des0oSch 70 HE Sun
LONDON. Feb. 2s.-Comment by the
morning papers on the killing In Mexico
Of william 8. Benton. n British subject
said to have been shot after a trial by
a rebel court-martiai. 10 on tho whole re-
strained. Some Of the papers. while print
ing the news In a prominent place, have
no editorial comment on the subject.
The Dolly Telegraph in a brief note in
PRODUCING the news says that pending the
tisation into the affair Judgment must to
some degree be suspended. The paper
thinks the position Of the United States
10 extremely difficult and embarrassing.
for President Wilson's order removing
the embargo on the expectation OF arms
from the United States to Mexico
has been followed by an incident which
seems to show that whatever Huerta's
crimes his record IL no worse than that
Of men who are posing as the true sup
porters Of constitutionalism in Mexico
The Morning Post says II finds Presi-
dent Wilson's policy unintelligible in view
appears to encourage anarchy. civil war
and the murder Of foreigners. The Post
continues:
The moment has now come. we imag-
ine whom Americans will share the ex-
pectation which Is cherished in England
that President Wilson will either an
nounce his plan for obtaining security
for foreigners or declare that the Monroe
Doctrine and the policy OF the United
States do not oppose action by other
countries to secure the welfare OF their
own subjects."
Recognition Preferable.
The STANDARD says Until precise. au-
Is useless to attemp, to fix the blame
on particular persons or to discuss the
best means OF furnishing them"
The STANDARD expresses gratitude for
American sympathy In this affair and ap-
peals to the English not to attach wrong
Significance o the murder OF Mr.. Benton.
The paper disavows tho idea that the
Unitei States will fail in its undertaking
to protect British subjects In Mexico
where n British Consulate 10 not estab-
lished and expresses the belief that the
view Is growing In America that anarchy
in Mexico will be the inevitable result OF
President Wilson's policy. The standard
continues:
The recognition o. Huerta, whatever
may have been its Inconvenience and dis
advantage, would in all probability have
produced a change for the better long be-
fore now. The tangle in Mexico cannot
be unravelled by looking on. still less by
seeming to encourage the rebels
The Daily Graphic. which has strongly
championed President Wilson. does not
seem to lose faith in him, but says:
III President Wilson does not choose
to intervene. he mus. not complain IL
Great Britain and possibly other Powers
take their own measures to protect their
subjects. measures which may not be as
agreeable to President Wilson as they
would wish
Calls villa 4. ). ProteR~.
The Daily Maj refers to the "extraordi-
exercised In regard to Mexico and says
this country has watched the develop
ments In a sort OF sympathetic bewilder-
ment and without the least desire to i'm
peds the efforts OF American diplomacy"
Tho Daily Nal refers to Pancho Villa
AZ "a protege or the United States Gov
eminent who has been encouraged by
them to pursue the vendetta which Pres
ident Wilson has apparently sworn
against President Huerta." The paper
asks what prospects President Wilson sees
for peace and security by stimulating the
combatants to fight II out among them
selves. and while paying a tribute to
President Wilson's high and disinter-
ested motives and realizing the magnitude
of the problem before him adds:
I'VE cannot profeAs to believe that a
policy OF watchful waiting brought or ever
will bring this problem an inch nearer
solution. On the contrary We are con-
WINGED that 1t is only by positive action
that Mexico and foreign interests and
foreign residents there can be saved from
perpetual civil war"
The Daily Express says: America has
ment by professors and cranks. Presi-
dent Wilson. having prepared pills for
earthquakes and found them inadequate,
began a series of futile negotiations which
have Inundated his Government without
achieving any good effect"
Impartial Inquiry Expected.
The Times says II will withhold any
definite view on the Benton affair until
the promised American inquiry has been
completed. 1t adds: I'VE are convinced
that this inquiry will be In thorough &C.
cordancs with the general principles Of
lmpartiality and Justice which the Eng
lish and American laws equally recognize
and which the consciences OF the two
peoples equally hono"."
The Tmes says II IL confident that II
the frst reports Of the AFFAIR prove TO be
correct Responsible opinion In the United
States will expect us To require and OBJ
tain adequate punishment of all RESPONSE
bio for the murder. a. the Washington
Government would be expected 10 do n
"a