Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-04

Washington, March S.@Treat Brit aims pronouncement through Sir Ed ward Grey that the United States was in no way responsible for the recent execution at Juarez of William s. Bell ton. e British subject, and that the American government would not be asked to resort to force as a result of the incident, was the chief factor in the Mexican situation today.
 President Wilson in conference to- day with Sir Cecil Spring-Rice and Sir Lionel Garden the British ambassador to Mexico. is understood to have eX- pressed his approval and appreciation pf the friendly sentiments uttered by the British foreign secretary in the house cf commons Tension which had been felt here over the killing of Ben- ton arose largely because it was be- heVeo Great Britain might press the United States into taking drastic steps to secure reparation. The British view that the United States is not opn- gated to demand reparadon for Great Britain relieved this tension to some extent, although it is clear that the Benton incident has developed an in tenticn on the part of the American government to take more aggressive attitude toward the Contending fac lions in Mexico.
 President Receives Garden.
 The entire situation was discussed st length by the president today at
 
 diplomats. It was the first time the British ambassador had called on the president since the Benton execution, all his conferences on this matter having been with Secretary Bryan. He came primarily to introduce Sir Lionel Garden. whose intimate knowledge Of the political and diplomatic situation in Mexico City enabled him to give the president firsthRnd information of con- ditions there. White House officials said afterward the conference was flor mutual information" and that no plans had been suggested by Sir Lionel. The latter, who is en route to London, had been attacked in the American press as ''unfriendly to the American policy t1 Mexico" His meeting with the president was most cordial. i
 The president received his visitors in the private parior of the White House. Later Secretary Bryan attend Cd dinner in honor of Sir Lionel giY- CT at the British embassy
 Garden May Warn Huerta.
 The conference with the president, st is understood, was arranged to em- phS-sizs tine fTiendliness of Great Brit eiu to the United States in it's hand ling of the Mexican problem, Sir Lio- pel expects to return to Mexico after his visit in London. and it is believed he assured the president of hfs own desire to follow the policy of the Brit 1sh government in interposing no ob- stacie to the handling of the Mexican question by the United States.
 In some quarters it was suggested that the interview eventually might have important results, as Sir Lionel would be able to convey to Provisional President Hderta an idea of the unal- . teEs5ois determiIa ton of President Will son never to recognize the Huerta gov e-Hmeut.
 "A High Minded Deeiaraton.'
 Sir Edward Grey's statement in Lon son was received through the press in time to be read at today's cabinet meeting by the president. It pro- duced a most favorable impression, some of the cabinet officers referring to it as "a high minded declaration" The days developments were accepted as showing clearly the close co-opera- tion between the United States and } Great Britain in the Mexican situa- ton, 8 circumstance which it was be- . Ieved would make a deep impression Epon the Mexican factions.
 Ne Reply Yet from Carranza.
 While definite information was lack s@g a to the fate of GustaIe Bauch, sn Eme-ican citizen supposed to have been killed by conStitutonalists, and Clements Nergaxa- another American reported murdered by Mexican fed erals, 1t is certain that there would be ITO difn1nution of Figor in the efforts of the ArneTfcanN government to secure complete investigations.
 
 ek importance to the state department fkpln Mexico today. Word was still kefrg awaited from General Csrranza es to whether hs would persist in his attitude denying tle right of the Unit cd States to inquire about a British subject.
 Carranxa Advised by Friends.
 Carranzs's friends here, who know the attitude of the American govern xnent have been telegraphing the con- stitutionalist chief advising a change f- his position. That the United States may communicate agains with Carran- Ea seeking protection for Spanish sub tects, was intimated by Secretary Bry- an today. Representations have been made to the United States on behalf of . Spaniard named Ruiz, and it is like ly that the American government will make inquiries to Carra.nza for him. Though there have been intimationS in press despaiches that CaITanZa would assume the same attitude regarding Spanish subjects as he has in the Ben ton case, the determination of the American government to continue to act for other nations has not been a1- tered.
 stiffening of American Policy. These phases of the situation occu- pied much of the time of today's cab tnet meeting. Some administration of Gcials expressed the opinion that while farTanze may not have intended to be Tnfriendiy to the United States he had produced an embarrassing situation. Failure to comply with the American Viewpoint in this case, it was agreed, might lead to serious complications, ss other nations might not feel dispos ed to be as tolerant as Great Britain. Caosnet members showed their agree meslt with the president that every peaceful means should be tried first to settle the Mexican question before there is any resort to armed interven- tion- There is apparently, however, a stfHening in the American policy and a frmness which Is interpreted in off, cM1 circles as meaning an insistence on demands hitherto made There is every reason to believe the United States will continue to- press its re- quest fer any examination of Bentons