The Washington times., 1914-03-08
FATE OF TERRAzAS
CAUSE OF ANXIETY
Entire Change of Policy Toward
Carranza May Follow Fur
ther Acts of Violence.

Officials OF the State Department to-
day awaited with anxiety advises from
Mexico as to the fate Of Luis Terrazas
ir.. whose execution by General Villa
was threatened, and the result of the
nua into the complaint of w. ID. Sny-
man, a British subject. of mistreat-
ufent by the constitutionalkt forces.
The future Mexican policy OF the
Government is held TO hinge on the
outcome of these two cases. In the
case of Terrazas, Consul Letcher was
instructed by Secretary of State Bryan
protest of the United States against
the execution of TerraZas, scion of a
wealthy Mexican house. who has been
held for ransom by Villa. and who had
been threatened with death il the ran
som was not paid today.
The protest of the Englishman. Sny-
man. was placed before the State De-
nartment yesterday by Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice, the British ambassador.
Snyman had appealed to his govern
nent for protection. declaring that his
ranch property at chihuahua had been
confiscated by Villa. He feared that
he would meet the same fate as his
rountrymen. BENTON. and asked pro-
lection. Consul Letcher was instructed
to investigate the case and afford Sny-
man protection.
Eager for Carothers' Report.
The execution Of Terrazas. over the
protest of this Government. and the
harming of Snyman. after his govern
ment had asked protection for him.
would. II is admitted in officials cir
cles, cause a change in the attitude OF
this Government toward Carranza and
his constitutionalist forces. and might
bring about a complete change In this
Governments Mexican policy.
George c. Carothers, special agent OF
the State Department. has returned to
Juare1 from Nogales, where he went to
try to persuade General Carranza to
change his attitude of defiance toward
that his mission was a failure. and that
Carranza maintained the position that
he would not treat with the United
States in the Benton matter.
The next step that this Government
will take in dealing with Carranza and
his followers has not been dfvulged
Administration officials. however. Were
interested in advices from Naco. Ariz-.
a port Of entry on the border. show
ing that 100000 cartridges, $500 rifles.
and clothing and other equipment for
soldiers had passed through that port
This was taken to indicate that the
constitutionalists have been prompt to
take advantages of Presiednt Wilson's
barge on the expectation Of arms to
Mexico.
Silence as to Rifles.
Official advices received by the
State Department today were of
routine nature. No report was re-
caved in substantiation of the uu-
official report that Inocente Bena-
vides, Texas stockman. arrested re-
Gently by federals near Sabinas Hi
dalgof, had been put to death. Neither
wes there any official news confirm
ing the report that HuerIa had
abandoned his plan to re-establish q
federal bank through which the gov
ernment would issue its own currency.
No comment would be made at the
Navy Department on the report from
Vera Cruz Of the. arrival there of
shipment of 1000 rifles and a large
frcm the United States. OF the
rifles, the Vera Cruz dispatch said.
$50 were dispatched to the Mexican
capital for the purpose of permitting
Americans there to arg themselves.
and $50 were placed on board the
flagship for disposal at the discretion
OF Admiral Fletcher.
Intimations of q change in the at
titude of the United States toward the
Huerta government were contained
in the ditpatch. which said that the
arms were sent to the Mexican capital
with the concurrence CT Huerta, who
has acquiesccd in q plan of arming
all Americans in Mexico City for self
protection in the event Of an upris-
ng at the capital.